Santa Cruz prioritizes investment and border control to curb violence and crime

Santa Cruz, Bolivia, is launching a comprehensive strategy to tackle escalating violence and organized crime, combining increased investment in security with enhanced police presence and border control measures. The plan, comprising 16 distinct actions, emerged from a Departmental Council of Citizen Security meeting aimed at addressing months of violent incidents and growing concerns about cross-border criminal activity.

The strategy involves reallocating police personnel to areas with the highest crime rates, identified through 'criminal heat maps.' Patrols will be intensified in key sectors, and existing police stations and modules will be reactivated with necessary resources for fuel, maintenance, and technology. The region is also seeking an increase in police numbers from the national government.

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The challenge demands state coordination in the face of urban growth and new criminal dynamics.

Border security is a central focus, with plans to strengthen territorial control, access routes, and border crossings. Santa Cruz intends to coordinate efforts with its Brazilian counterpart in Mato Grosso to enhance these measures. Additionally, the Public Prosecutor's Office will significantly increase its capacity to handle organized crime cases, expanding the number of dedicated prosecutors from three to eleven.

Financially, the Santa Cruz government plans to request the Departmental Legislative Assembly to allocate 10% of the constitutional development funds (IDH) to urgent police needs, estimating approximately 17 million Bolivian pesos (Bs) for materials, fuel, logistics, and operational equipment. The funds will prioritize infrastructure, vehicle fleet renewal, and technology, rather than recurring expenses. The region also plans to establish a Citizen Security Observatory, modeled after the Cruceño Institute of Statistics, and proposes amendments to national security laws to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources between the central government and autonomous territorial entities.

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The Armed Forces will reinforce police work, and actions will be coordinated with their counterparts in Brazil in Mato Grosso.