Colombian foreign minister warns of drug cartels in Bolivia, agreement signed

Foreign Minister of Colombia María Ángela Holguín warned on June 5, 2012 that Colombian cartels are operating in Bolivia. According to Erbol Digital, she hopes to launch a joint effort to curb their activities. The names of the trafficking organizations were not specified; however, she did state that detrimental consequences would arise if efforts are not taken to eliminate them. Holguín stated that she does not want Bolivia to be stained by a negative image of Colombians and that she hopes to change the stigma of the Colombian as a narco-trafficker. The two governments have signed an agreement of mutual support in the fight against drug trafficking, which includes surveillance and operational support. Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca agreed that mutual support is necessary to combat a shared problem. The U.S. DEA reported in 2011 that Bolivia had become a primary area of narco-trafficking activities, evident in the rising coca-production statistics. Read Article