President Paz demands governors and mayors combat organised crime and corrupt prosecutors
President Rodrigo Paz alleged that public prosecutors extort businesspeople and have links with drug trafficking. He called on municipalities and regional governments to join the fight.
Paz calls on sub-national governments to unite against drug trafficking and fiscal extortion
President Rodrigo Paz called on the regional governments and municipalities of the country to participate actively in the fight against organised crime, according to erbol.com.bo. During an event marking the 124th anniversary of the Battle of Bahia, held in Pando, the president also denounced that prosecutors from the public ministry extort businesspeople and maintain links with drug trafficking.
"I want them to participate to end public prosecutor offices that do nothing but extort businesspeople," Paz said to those attending the event.
The statements come in the context of investigations opened against former attorney general Roger Mariaca for alleged links with drug trafficking. Mariaca is currently detained in Patacamaya.
The president contended that these practices erode confidence in institutions and damage the credibility of the State. He warned that the absence of legal security would hinder the attraction of investments, both domestic and foreign.
Paz noted that organised crime and drug trafficking operate across the entire Bolivian territory, from west to east and from south to north, and therefore considered coordination between municipalities, regional governments and the central Government to be essential.
The president also revealed that he had been advised not to travel to Cobija due to the risks to his security, following operations carried out against alleged members of criminal organisations in the region. Nevertheless, he assured that his administration would maintain the offensive against narco-terrorism and corruption.
Source: Google News BO — La Paz