Bolivia’s ‘Narco Maletas’ Scandal Involves Seven Detainees and Ongoing Parliamentary Probe

Bolivian authorities say seven people remain in preventive detention as investigations continue into the “narco maletas” case, in which 32 suitcases allegedly brought controlled substances from the United States. The prosecutor general, Roger Mariaca, told a legislative commission that the inquiry is still in its preparatory stage and that five additional criminal processes have been opened linked to the same scandal.

Deputy Rolando Pacheco presented evidence to the special parliamentary commission, alleging that officials from the Ministry of Government, the National Customs Service, the Ministry of Public Works and the Bolivian police were implicated. The case centers on a charter flight that landed at Viru Viru airport in Santa Cruz without undergoing customs checks, using a diplomatic passport to bypass controls. Over ten people are under investigation for drug trafficking and money‑laundering, and the whereabouts of the suitcases remain unknown. International cooperation is being pursued to determine the contents and final destination of the luggage.

The scandal, which first surfaced eight months ago, has drawn public scrutiny to governmental institutions and may lead to further legal actions against the accused officials.