Bolivia to Join Panama‑Based Americas Coalition Against Drug Cartels

Bolivian Defense Minister Ernesto Justiniano announced that Bolivia will attend the upcoming meeting of the Coalition of the Americas against drug cartels in Panama. The participation aims to strengthen intelligence exchange, improve border and air‑space control, and introduce new security technologies to combat transnational organized crime.

The move follows a recent surge of violent incidents in Bolivia’s border region with Brazil, linked to a rivalry between the Brazilian criminal groups Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho. Incidents cited include a four‑person killing in San Matías, an ambush on intelligence agents, a prison escape in Santa Cruz, and a shooting in the city centre. Bolivian officials say the coalition will help curb narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, illegal mining and money laundering.

Bolivia will present its own agenda at the Panama forum, emphasizing coordination that respects sovereignty while delivering concrete results against the cartels.