Suspected 'Los Choleros' member arrested in Cobija, Bolivia

Authorities in Cobija, Bolivia, have arrested a man identified as Josué R. S., a suspected member of the criminal organization 'Los Choleros.' The arrest occurred during a raid in the Paraíso neighborhood, which also yielded six cell phones and a firearm with 16 rounds.

Josué R. S. is reportedly wanted by the Beni Prosecutor's Office for charges including contract killing, kidnapping, and criminal association. He is believed to be part of 'Los Choleros,' a gang that has declared war on Brazilian criminal groups Primer Comando de la Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV), leading to armed confrontations.

The operation was conducted by agents from the Special Force to Combat Crime (Felcc) based on a judicial order for a search and seizure related to a murder investigation. During the intervention, Josué R. S. attempted to flee but was apprehended by the officers.

According to Pando's departmental police commander, Erland Monasterio, intelligence shared with Beni authorities led to the suspect's location in Cobija. Monasterio suggested that Josué R. S. may have come to Pando to evade justice. The suspect has since been transferred to Beni via a small aircraft.

Reports indicate that 'Los Choleros' operates in the Pando and Beni departments, engaging in the trafficking of controlled substances into Brazil. The group's conflict with the PCC and CV in 2023 resulted in multiple armed clashes, causing casualties. The most recent incident attributed to 'Los Choleros' occurred on July 11 in Cobija, where two young men, reportedly members of the gang, were attacked, with one killed and the other injured.

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This work we had been doing for quite some time, until we were able to locate this person and also capture him for this arrest warrant.