Six Brazilians arrested over four murders in San Ignacio de Velasco
Bolivian police have apprehended six Brazilian citizens linked to four homicides that occurred in San Ignacio de Velasco between 13 and 14 September.
Six Brazilians from Comando Vermelho arrested over homicides in Santa Cruz
Bolivian police presented six Brazilian citizens on Saturday afternoon who were apprehended as part of investigations into four murders recorded between 13 and 14 September in the municipality of San Ignacio de Velasco, Santa Cruz department. According to El Deber, a Bolivian minor was also detained, although authorities did not provide additional details on that case.
Police commander-in-chief Adrián Javier Álvarez stated that operations and raids, coordinated with the Public Ministry, made it possible to identify the six as alleged members of the Brazilian criminal organisation Comando Vermelho. According to police hypothesis, this structure would have extended its operations to this border area.
The investigations were supported by analysis of images from surveillance cameras, which made it possible to identify three motorcycles allegedly used in the various criminal acts. Investigators also would have established correspondences between the clothing items found during raids and the clothing visible in the footage.
During the operations, police seized two 9-millimetre pistols, an AR-15 rifle, a 12-calibre shotgun and ammunition of various calibres. Likewise, paint containers were found which, according to police hypothesis, would be related to graffiti that appeared on several properties in San Ignacio de Velasco, messages that would have been intended to generate fear and intimidation among residents.
Commander Álvarez indicated that the six detainees have criminal records in Brazil for offences related to trafficking in controlled substances and alleged cases of hired killing. The institution will request, through the Public Ministry, that those apprehended be brought before a hearing on precautionary measures and that their preventive detention at the Chonchocoro prison in La Paz be evaluated.
The authority clarified that it will be the responsibility of prosecutors and, subsequently, judicial bodies to determine the individual participation of each person under investigation, the motives for the crimes and the responsibilities in accordance with the law.
Source: El Deber