Police identify suspect with drug trafficking record in "El Hormiga" murder in Urubó
Police identified one of five suspects in the murder of José Luis Bravo in Porongo. The crime is believed to be linked to a drug trafficking debt or failed transaction.
One identified among five implicated in Villa Bonita crime
Four days after the murder of José Luis Bravo, alias "El Hormiga", Bolivian Police successfully identified one of five suspects in the incident, according to El Deber.
The director of the Special Force to Combat Crime (Felcc), Colonel Jhonny Coca, stated that the identified individual is a Bolivian national and has at least three prior convictions for drug trafficking.
"One of the five people who would have participated in this act has been identified. Search operations are being carried out to apprehend this person, who directly participated in the commission of this investigated crime," Coca said.
Bravo was shot dead on the evening of Thursday, 3 September in the Villa Bonita sector, Urubó zone, municipality of Porongo, with nine bullet wounds from a 9-millimetre firearm.
Colonel Coca clarified that the identified individual is considered a co-perpetrator of the crime. The investigations included taking statements from witnesses and family members, gathering evidence and clues, reviewing security camera footage and digital investigations whose results were expected in the following hours.
"One of them is identified and for us he is a co-perpetrator. (...) Digital investigations have also been activated which surely, during the course of the day and at most tomorrow, will provide us with results so we can identify the alleged perpetrators," he explained.
The main police hypothesis points to a failed transaction or an outstanding debt linked to drug trafficking. "Both individuals, the victim and one of the identified suspects, have prior records for these activities," Coca noted.
The deceased's family also stated that the identified suspect maintained a friendship with Bravo. According to the police report, the victim is believed to have travelled to the location carrying 8,000 dollars and 40,000 bolivianos; only 6,400 bolivianos were found on his body at the time of the intervention.
Source: El Deber