Bolivia man survives cocaine ingestion case, Chile prison intercepts smuggled drugs

In Santa Cruz, Bolivia, a 25‑year‑old man swallowed 37 capsules of cocaine intended for transport to Brazil. Severe abdominal pain prompted him to seek emergency care at Hospital Japonés, where surgeons removed the capsules, saving his life. He was subsequently arrested, charged with drug trafficking and detained in Palmasola prison.

In Curicó, Chile, prison authorities detected a “pelotazo” – a method of throwing contraband into the facility – that delivered packages containing what authorities believe to be cocaine, base paste, and marijuana into the penitentiary courtyard. Gendarmes seized the materials and are working with intelligence and police to identify and prosecute those responsible.

Both incidents highlight ongoing challenges confronting law‑enforcement agencies in South America as they combat drug trafficking and the smuggling of narcotics into prisons.