US backs Rodrigo Paz after detention of Bolivia's attorney general on drug-trafficking charges
Bolivia detained attorney general Roger Mariaca and 13 others on links to drug trafficking. The US backed the actions of Paz's government.
Detention of Bolivian attorney general sparks Washington support
Bolivia detained attorney general Roger Mariaca on Wednesday in Santa Cruz, accused of maintaining links with drug-trafficking networks and using his office to favour criminal organisations. According to infobae.com, the operation included 13 other people, among them prosecutors and officials from the Public Ministry, including Alberto Zeballos, departmental prosecutor for Santa Cruz.
The following day, the United States expressed its support for president Rodrigo Paz. "The Trump Administration strongly backs the democratically elected president and Government of Bolivia in its bold and decisive actions to combat drug trafficking, systemic corruption and transnational organised crime in Bolivia," wrote Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his social media accounts. Rubio added that "Bolivia's actions demonstrate the type of leadership necessary to achieve a safer, stronger and more prosperous hemisphere".
Money found in an ambulance
One of the most striking discoveries of the operation was large sums of cash inside an ambulance that left a property linked to Mariaca during the early hours of the morning. Four people were detained in the vehicle whilst transporting bags and packages with cash.
The subsequent count yielded 3,532,100 bolivianos and 10,000 dollars. The Public Ministry reported that it would investigate the origin of the money and whether those transporting it could legally justify its source. The cash remained in official custody as the investigation progressed.
Criminal structure "embedded in the Justice system"
Government minister Marco Antonio Oviedo stated that the investigation had enabled the dismantling of a network installed within the justice system itself. "A criminal organisation embedded in the Justice system and in the administration of the Public Ministry has been dismantled," he declared. Oviedo further held that this structure was aimed at "encouraging and protecting narco-terrorism in the country".
Among the offences under investigation are money laundering, criminal organisation and trafficking in controlled substances. The charges will be subject to the corresponding legal process. The authorities conducted raids on Public Ministry facilities in La Paz and Sucre. The temporary leadership of the Public Ministry fell to Luis Montaño Morales in the absence of Mariaca.
The attorney of the detained prosecutor, Romel Ipamo, stated that his client is willing to collaborate with the authorities, although he called for procedural guarantees.
Entry restrictions from Washington
Mariaca's detention came just two days after Washington announced entry restrictions to the United States against him and other Bolivian officials. The State Department revoked entry authorisation for Mariaca, Zeballos and eleven other Bolivian officials or former officials, under accusations related to corruption and drug trafficking. The list also included citizens of Colombia and Peru. The measure was also extended to the direct family members of those affected.
Washington contended that some of the officials had used their positions to facilitate activities linked to drug trafficking or to obstruct the course of justice.
Bolivia and US rebuild bilateral relationship
Paz's government took office in November 2025 and began rebuilding the relationship with Washington after years of significant bilateral tensions. In that context, Bolivia joined what is called the Shield of the Americas, an initiative promoted by the United States to strengthen regional co-operation against organised crime.
Rubio specifically highlighted that framework in noting that Washington reaffirms its commitment to the security and democratic governance of the region against transnational criminal networks.
Mariaca had been appointed attorney general in October 2024 and remained in office during the political transition that brought Paz to the Presidency. During his tenure, the Bolivian police captured Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset, one of the main targets of regional authorities, who was subsequently sent to the United States. Now, Mariaca's own actions as head of the Public Ministry are under investigation for the accusations made by Bolivian and United States authorities.
Source: Google News BO — Crime