Legislators seek international cooperation amid wave of violence in Santa Cruz
Bolivian senators and deputies request technical support from Brazil, the DEA, Paraguay and Argentina to stem organised crime in Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz under pressure: legislators demand international backing against drug crime
Bolivian legislators have requested international cooperation to confront organised crime and drug trafficking in the department of Santa Cruz, where violence has escalated in recent weeks. According to lapatria.bo, the proposal includes technical and technological support from the United States, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and European countries.
Senator César Mentasti was among the most emphatic in pointing out that Bolivian institutions lack sufficient means to face criminal organisations alone. "We need international help," Mentasti declared, attributing the violence to disputes between gangs over control of their activities in the country. The senator also warned that insecurity could damage Bolivia's image as a tourist destination.
For his part, Deputy Rafael López presented a communication note to the Ministry of Government two weeks ago requesting the immediate increase in police personnel, weapons and equipment in Santa Cruz. López argued that the department's population is disproportionately large in relation to the number of available police officers, and alerted to the situation in border municipalities such as San Matías and San Ignacio de Velasco.
The deputy also supported coordination with Brazil's Federal Police, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the police forces of Paraguay and Argentina. "Bolivia alone will not be able to fight. We need collaboration," López stated, proposing a joint working scheme to confront criminal networks with transnational reach.
The legislators' request comes following a series of violent incidents that struck Santa Cruz in recent weeks. Among the most high-profile cases are the shooting death of a 26-year-old man inside a mechanics' workshop and the armed robbery of the Imperio jewellery store, located in a shopping centre. The Fides News Agency (ANF) reported on 14 October that, between 1 September and that date, at least ten cases of kidnapping, hired killings and armed robberies involving violent deaths had been recorded in the department.
The situation prompted departmental authorities and civic sectors to demand concrete measures to strengthen security and improve border control. The Government responded by announcing the strengthening of operational and investigative capacities of the Police, whilst operations continue against suspects accused of participating in robberies and armed attacks. The legislative proposal aims to complement those actions with more personnel and greater integration with specialised foreign agencies.
Source: Google News BO — Crime