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Bolivian Prosecutors Investigate Alleged Disappearance of 300 Kilos of Drugs Post-Operation
🇧🇴 Bolivia /Crime & Justice

Bolivian Prosecutors Investigate Alleged Disappearance of 300 Kilos of Drugs Post-Operation

From El Deber · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Bolivia's Santa Cruz Prosecutor's Office is investigating the alleged disappearance of 300 kilograms of drugs following an anti-narcotics operation.
  • The operation involved agents from the Special Cases Investigation Group (GICE) of the Special Force to Combat Drug Trafficking (Felcn).
  • Prosecutors questioned the procedure, noting the absence of a Public Ministry representative during the vehicle's inspection.

The Prosecutor's Office in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, has launched an investigation into the alleged disappearance of 300 kilograms of cocaine following a recent anti-narcotics operation. The operation was conducted by agents from the Special Cases Investigation Group (GICE), a unit within the Special Force to Combat Drug Trafficking (Felcn).

Operated without a fiscal presence, effectively.

— Julio César PorrasExpressing concern over the lack of a prosecutor's presence during the operation.

Julio César Porras, coordinator for the Prosecutor's Office of Controlled Substances, confirmed that the inquiry began on Wednesday, June 12, focusing on alleged drug trafficking. He indicated that several police officers have already provided statements to the assigned prosecutor. According to official reports, GICE agents intercepted a truck driven by Paraguayan nationals on Cristo Redentor Avenue in Santa Cruz on Sunday. The vehicle and its occupants were taken to Felcn facilities, where the individuals were released without the direct involvement or knowledge of the Prosecutor's Office.

If there was absolutely nothing, well, proceed as appropriate. There have been many cases like this already.

— Julio César PorrasCommenting on the procedure when no drugs are found during an operation.

Porras expressed concern over the operation's execution, stating, "Operated without a fiscal presence, effectively." He emphasized that while drug-sniffing dogs were used, a prosecutor should have been present for a joint investigation. However, Dimar Caprirolo, director of Felcn, dismissed claims of drug "disappearance" or a "rip-off" (volteo de droga). He explained that two police officers requested support to transport the truck to anti-narcotics facilities for a thorough inspection. Caprirolo stated that a canine unit was requested via phone, and the verification yielded no positive alert, leading to the release of the truck and the two Paraguayan individuals, neither of whom had prior drug trafficking records.

To improve the investigation, they requested a canine team via phone, the verification was done, and it did not give a positive alert. The truck was released, along with the two Paraguayan individuals who have no history of drug trafficking.

— Dimar CapriroloExplaining the circumstances of the truck's release and the absence of a positive drug alert.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Deber in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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