Brazilian criminal gangs drive violence in Bolivia-Brazil border region

Violence is escalating along the Bolivia-Brazil border, specifically in the Amazonian town of Guayaramerín. Authorities report that the area has become a refuge for Brazilian criminal organizations, including the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV). These groups are reportedly engaged in violent conflicts to control cocaine trafficking routes toward the Atlantic.

Recent weeks have seen a surge in brutal crimes, including the murder of a family, decapitations, and the killing of a police officer. Criminal investigator Joaquín Chacín noted that this represents a new phenomenon for Bolivia, suggesting that a previous “pax mafiosa” between criminal groups has broken down. Homicide statistics reflect this trend, with 774 reported murders between January and September 2025, compared to 325 during the same period the previous year.

Local residents and merchants have expressed growing insecurity, citing a lack of effective migration and police controls at river crossings. In response, the government of Rodrigo Paz has launched a plan to increase police presence at the borders, improve information sharing with Brazil, and coordinate the capture of fugitives in both countries.