Military personnel and drones deployed in San Ignacio de Velasco following four murders
Eighty military personnel reinforce security in San Ignacio de Velasco with drones and police intelligence following four recent homicides.
Deployment of forces in San Ignacio de Velasco following wave of homicides
According to reduno.com.bo, Bolivia's security forces deployed military personnel, drones and intelligence agents in the municipality of San Ignacio de Velasco after four murders were recorded in the area. Personnel are establishing checkpoints on routes and strategic areas of the municipality.
Approximately 80 soldiers are currently operating in the field. The commander of Warnes Infantry, Walter César Passo, confirmed that this number could grow in the coming days with the incorporation of specialised units.
"At this moment we are operating with 80; we understand that very soon we will be reinforced with Special Forces units and also with Military Police," Passo declared.
The military chief stated that operations are being carried out in accordance with the Political Constitution of the State and current laws, within the framework of Plan Bolivia, with the aim of supporting the work of the Bolivian Police.
"We are carrying out security operations, route control, area control, zone control and reconnaissance work," Passo said.
The commander also requested collaboration from the local population: "We ask the citizens to help us restore security to this beautiful place that is San Ignacio de Velasco."
Drones coordinated with police intelligence
Among the tools incorporated into the operations are drones, used for reconnaissance and tracking tasks in different sectors of the municipality. Passo explained that the equipment is being used in direct coordination with intelligence personnel from the Bolivian Police.
"We are using drones to conduct tracking and reconnaissance in different places, in coordination with intelligence personnel from the Police," the commander stated.
The purpose of this coordination is to obtain information that allows for strengthening both ongoing investigations and security controls in the field.
Operations also in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
In parallel, the Bolivian Police have mobilised personnel at various points in Santa Cruz de la Sierra following the murder of Álvaro García, a young man who died after receiving three bullet wounds in the southern area of the city.
Officers are concentrating controls in sectors such as the fourth ring of Santos Dumont avenue, where they are conducting checks especially on motorcyclists in search of information to identify those responsible for the attack.
The recent violent incidents have thus kept security forces on alert in both municipalities, whilst investigations advance to clarify the homicides and locate those responsible.
Source: Google News BO — Crime