Third sawmill raided in Pando over drug-trafficking case involving timber
Bolivian authorities raided another timber operation in Pando as part of an investigation into drug shipments concealed in wooden boards discovered in Chile.
Third sawmill raided in Pando over drug-trafficking case involving timber
A new police and prosecution operation was carried out on Friday in the Amazonian region of Pando, where law enforcement inspected an establishment engaged in timber processing. This marks the third intervention of its kind in the department, linked to a drug-trafficking network that uses wooden boards to transport illegal substances to the neighbouring country.
Freddy Durán, a representative of the Public Ministry in that part of the country, reported that the raid follows two earlier operations conducted at local sawmills. The official explained that investigations extend across the entire national territory and that this is a lengthy process related to the so-called "timber case".
During the operation, agents seized documents and gathered information that will be examined by investigators. Durán chose to remain tight-lipped about the details of the operations and the progress of the investigations, arguing that disclosing information could damage their development.
The prosecutor indicated that further action would be carried out that same afternoon, with additional raids planned for the following days. He also suggested that the range of timber businesses under suspicion could expand beyond the three already visited.
The origin of this investigation traces back to the discovery made by Chilean authorities, who detected more than a hundred tonnes of drugs concealed in consignments of Bolivian timber. According to prosecutors in the neighbouring country, most of those shipments would have originated from Pando. Nevertheless, the illicit scheme would not be limited to that department, as suspected connections with sawmills in Santa Cruz and Cochabamba are also being considered.
Information from El Deber
Source: El Deber