Bolivia files criminal charges over failed Bicentennial banknote project

The Bolivian government has filed a criminal complaint against former officials of the Central Bank of Bolivia (BCB) following an audit that revealed significant economic damage related to the printing of Bicentennial commemorative banknotes.

Authorized in April 2024 during the administration of Luis Arce, the project involved printing one million banknotes at a cost exceeding Bs 4.5 million. The stated goal was to generate state revenue through sales. However, an audit revealed that only 3.8% of the notes—37,885 pieces—had been sold by May 2026, leaving 962,115 units unsold.

Authorities noted that at the current average sales rate of 270 notes per month, it would take approximately 297 years to sell the remaining stock. The Viceministerio de Transparencia alleged that the operation proceeded without necessary technical, legal, or market studies to ensure viability. The criminal complaint targets former interim BCB President Edwin Rojas Ulo, former board members, and technical staff for alleged crimes including anti-economic conduct, contracts harmful to the state, and breach of duty.