Bolivia claims seized cocaine bags show face of Peru’s Shining Path founder

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Bolivian anti-drug forces seized 305 kilos of cocaine marked with an image that Bolivian authorities identified as the face of the founder of Peruvian armed group Shining Path, Abimael Guzman.

An operation in the tropical region of the department of Cochabamba found some 300 packages of cocaine “jute bags” bearing “the logo of one of the leaders of the Shining Path, Mr. Abimael Guzman,” said the Minister of Government (Interior), Eduardo Del Castillo, at a press conference on Friday.

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Last Tuesday, the discovery took place near one of the anti-drug checkpoints on the highway between Cochabamba and Santa Cruz when a vehicle made a suspicious turn and began to flee in the opposite direction, the minister described.

This alerted the officers, who initiated a chase, after which the suspect vehicle was able to escape.

However, after a search of about six hours, the suspect vehicle was found in the home of 45-year-old Emiliano S.C., who was arrested, and the 305 kilos of cocaine valued at US$1.5 million, explained Del Castillo.

According to the investigation, it was established that the drug was “coming from Peru” and that the shipment was to arrive at a “clandestine track” for subsequent shipment to Brazil.

Another discovery that also took place in the department of Cochabamba was 55 kilos of cocaine valued at US$270,000.

This incident occurred when a group of anti-drug agents approached a vehicle parked on the road without a license plate, which caused the driver to get out and drive into the forest vegetation suddenly.

These findings are in addition to actions announced by the Ministry of Government this week in Beni, where drugs and goods belonging to drug trafficking were confiscated for 2 million dollars and three operations in La Paz in coordination with Peru with the same characteristics.

Del Castillo mentioned that through August 12 of this year, about 13 tons of drugs have been seized, compared to 9 tons in the same period of the previous year.