Bolivia reported a historic cocaine seizure in the western Oruro department, with officials confirming on Friday. The confiscated drugs, valued at $224 million locally, are anticipated to fetch almost double that amount in Europe, where authorities believe the illicit cargo was intended.
Bolivian President Luis Arce described the roughly 8.8 metric ton bust as the largest ever recorded in the South American country in a post on social media. “Our work, committed to the Homeland, is achieving historic results in the fight against drug trafficking,” Arce wrote on X.
Nuestro trabajo comprometido con la Patria, está consiguiendo resultados históricos en la lucha contra el narcotráfico. Informamos al pueblo boliviano y a la comunidad internacional que incautamos 8,7 toneladas de cocaína que tenían como destino Países Bajos (Europa), mismos que… pic.twitter.com/I3WTeYP6ua— Luis Alberto Arce Catacora (Lucho Arce) (@LuchoXBolivia) January 5, 2024
“We inform the Bolivian people and the international community that we seized 8.7 tons of cocaine destined for the Netherlands (Europe), which were camouflaged in wooden tiles, transported in a truck,” he said.
“Likewise, four people who were part of this criminal organization were arrested, nine raids were carried out and four properties were seized. The investigations continue,” he added.
The Bolivian President said the drugs were hidden in wooden flooring materials found in a truck and were likely destined for the Netherlands where their value would be estimated at some $526 million.
The operation also included the arrest of four suspected drug traffickers, stemming from nine raids, Reuters reported citing government officials.
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