US sanctions Bolivia's Attorney General Roger Mariaca for drug trafficking and corruption
Washington imposed sanctions on Bolivia's Attorney General Roger Mariaca for alleged corruption linked to drug trafficking. Another 12 Bolivians were also sanctioned.
US bars Bolivia's Attorney General over bribes and drug trafficking links
The United States Government sanctioned Bolivia's Attorney General Roger Mariaca for his alleged participation in acts of "significant corruption" related to drug trafficking and the protection of violent criminals, according to erbol.com.bo.
The sanction imposes entry restrictions to US territory for Mariaca and his family. According to a State Department statement, the official "abused his public posts by requesting and accepting bribes to facilitate drug trafficking and help violent criminals evade justice".
The official text adds that Mariaca's actions "endanger President Trump's efforts to combat narcoterrorism" and "undermine Bolivia's own democratic institutions", a country that participates in the Shield programme.
Mariaca was elected in 2024 for a six-year term as Attorney General during the government of former president Luis Arce. Before taking that post, he served as departmental prosecutor of Santa Cruz.
The State Department presented the measure as part of its sanctions policy against foreign officials accused of corruption. "Corrupt officials, and the criminals they protect, are not welcome in the United States", states the statement signed on behalf of President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In addition to Mariaca, Washington announced sanctions against another 12 Bolivian citizens, including prosecutors, former Justice Minister Iván Lima and former Customs director Samuel Soto de la Vía.
Source: Google News BO — Crime