Section » Bolivia

Brazil: Operation Ostium combating suspected air traffic on borders

INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED SPANISH VOCABULARY – READ THIS BOOK

dialogo-americas.com – Operation Ostium, conducted by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB, per its Portuguese acronym) since March, has reduced suspect air traffic on Brazil’s borders with Bolivia and Paraguay by 80 percent. The operation has reinforced surveillance of the region’s air space with the temporary installation of mobile radar stations in towns near border areas such as Chapecó in Santa Catarina, and Corumbá in Mato Grosso do Sul. Aerial operations from FAB bases have also been enhanced, and military aircraft have been deployed to towns and cities such as Cascavel and Foz do Iguaçu in Paraná, and Dourados in Mato Grosso do Sul, the main base of operations, located 100 kilometers from Paraguay’s border. Read Article

No CommentsPermalink

Peru: Striking teachers block border crossings to Bolivia and in areas of Cusco

Strikers block border crossings from Peru to Bolivia Lima, Aug 10 (Prensa Latina) (machine translated) Striking teachers blocked road traffic in the southern Andean region of Puno, blocking access to vehicles at the border crossing points to Bolivia, radio stations reported. territory. The report notes that strikers block rocks and logs from various points along […]

No CommentsRead this post »

La Paz Bolivia: Bizarre Case of Dead Woman Found Alive In Funeral Home

Woman was to be transported home. Instead,daughter and son-in-law had her taken to a funeral home to die. Ecuaisa.com (machine translated) A 64-year-old woman was recovering Thursday at a La Paz hospital after police rescued her from a funeral home where her family had taken her after she was removed from hospital monitoring equipment . […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Boliva: Two police detained in smuggling of foreing women for prostitution case

lahora.com.ec/EFE reported A Bolivian court ordered the arrest of two police officers accused of complicity in trafficking in foreigners for a case linked to a La Paz brothel denounced and demolished in September last year, the prosecutor’s office said. The police, imprisoned in pre-trial detention, are Jacinto FG and Freddy AM and face charges of […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Chinese Smugglers in Bolivia involved in trafficking of jaguar teeth

insightcrime.org reported The trafficking of jaguar teeth from Bolivia’s natural parks to China has sparked worries that Asian smugglers are boosting this illegal trade. Between 2014 and 2016, 800 jaguar teeth have been seized by Bolivian authorities, suggesting that around 200 animals have been killed, reported the Bolivian Environment Forum (Foro Boliviano sobre Medio Ambiente […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Ten South American Destinations worth a visit you may never have heard of

Rare Beautiful Landscapes in South America GearJunkie.com reported: 1) Cerro Castillo, Chile 2) Eduardo Abaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, Bolivia 3) Vinicunca, Peru 4) Pailon del Diablo, Ecuador 5) Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil 6) Huacachina, Peru 7) Humahuaca and Purmamarca, Argentina 8) Cocora Valley, Colombia 9) Villa O’Higgins, Chile 10) Valle de Muerte, Chile […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Copacabana, Bolivia: Supermarket employee murdered (video-graphic)

WARNING: GRAPHIC – NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES GRAPHIC video of supermarket worker shot in head on 4-12-15/Liveleak.com

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: Three routes identified for commercial sex trafficking

elpaisonline.com reported a study by the Foundation ANAR (Help for Children and Adolescents at Risk) in Santa Cruz identified three routes of trafficking in women and sex trade, reported Radio Santa Cruz. “You have a small initial study identified three specific routes in Santa Cruz: the border with Argentina, the Brazilian border and the route […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: Woman arrested for selling her baby on Facebook

ecuavisa.com/EFE A Bolivian woman has been arrested after allegedly selling her one month old daughter through Facebook for the equivalent of $251.00. The baby was sold to an eighteen year old woman, who also was detained. They have been accused of trafficking in person. The mother who has four other children that she was not […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Colomia leads Peru, Bolivia in cocaine production

telegraph.co.uk/Harriet Alexander reported Colombia overtakes Peru to be the world’s largest producer of cocaine President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia has appealed to America for help in eradicating coca crops after Colombia returned to the top of the world-producing table . Colombia has overtaken Peru to be the world’s largest producer of cocaine, according to […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: Increase in cases of arthritis in those who have contracted Chikungunya

eldia.com.bo reported…Cases of arthritis and rheumatism have increased significantly in the population, especially in people who contracted the virus chikungunya, they confirm specialists who are attending cases of patients before the disease suffered similar symptoms and now say their joints They cause them discomfort. The discomfort may last for more than 12 months. Secondary symptoms […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: Series of child rapes in a village prompts ban on alcohol and a new curfew

telegraph.co.uk reported after a series of child rapes, La Asunta has taken the drastic action “for the good of all”, says community leader, Jorge Mendoza. Villagers in a small community in Bolivia have implemented a dry law and curfew to try to cut crime after a spate of child rapes. La Asunta, a coca-growing neighbourhood […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Storms lash Bolivia, over 10,000 left homeless

eluniverso.com The storms that lash Bolivia since October have left 15 dead and over 10,000 homeless families, with swollen rivers in five of the nine departments, reported Sunday the Vice Ministry of Civil Defense. The official count, which does not include an assessment of material losses in crops and destruction of roads, covering a period […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: Significant increase in violence against girls and women

bbc.com reported the Bolivian ombudsman has said he is worried about a rise in sexual attacks against girls and women. Rolando Villena said that local, regional and national authorities were failing to act in the face of a growing number of increasingly cruel attacks on young girls. Last week, a four-year-old girl was raped and […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia to build new presidential palace

bbc.com reported Bolivian President Evo Morales has signed the contract to start the building of a new presidential palace. President Morales said it was inspired by the architecture of the Tiahuanaco civilization of pre-Hispanic Bolivia. It will replace the current colonial building, in use since the 16th Century. The new building will be decorated to […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Llamaexpeditions.com: Custom Tours to Peru, Bolivia, Galapagos Islands

      Our Story I hatched the idea for Llama Expeditions over a home-cooked chicken dinner at close to 14,000 feet in the Peruvian Andes. I was on a backpacking trip with friends. Our group had hired a local campesino, Antonio, to carry our heavy items on his horse and mule. The first night […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Evo Morales elected as President for third term in Bolivia

theguardian.com reported Evo Morales has coasted to victory in Bolivia’s presidential elections, winning an unprecedented third term as voters rewarded the former coca grower for delivering economic and political stability. Morales, a native Aymara Indian, received 60% of the vote against 25% for cement magnate Samuel Doria Medina, the highest polling of four challengers in […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: Women’s movement goes after political candidates with history of domestic violence

BBC MUNDO reported…More than 100 women have died in so far year, killed in Bolivia, one of the most violent for the women of Latin America, according to United Nations. But in the middle of a wave of attacks – which include, abandoned, burned or even decapitated bodies, a group of women achieved what seemed […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia Military Acquires Six Z9-H425 Helicopters from China

the armed forces of Bolivia today premiered six Z9-H425 model helicopters purchased from China, ships that will have multiple uses, including support in natural disasters, security citizen and fight against smuggling. At a ceremony in a military base in the Bolivian city of Cochabamba in Bolivia China’s Ambassador, Li Dong, presented the keys to the […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: 9 year old blind jazz prodigy (Video)

No CommentsRead this post »

La Gran Familia, Peruvian Mafia extends tentacles into Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia

larepublica.pe reported “La Gran Familia” extends its tentacles to Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia. Criminal gang would have signed alliances with important national and international criminal gangs. “Old Paco” would still be leading. The criminal organization “La Gran Familia” would operate with its full might and apparently until recharged, since successfully extended its tentacles to Ecuador, […]

No CommentsRead this post »

La Paz Bolivia: HIV, AIDs reported cases up 10 percent so far in 2014

paginasiete.bo reported 299 cases of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the syndrome of acquired immunodeficiency (AIDS) in La Paz were reported from January to the date: 10% more than in 2013, reported the departmental health service (Headquarters). “In this administration, so far have had 299 cases, compared to last year, when we had 230 […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia Bus Crash: Eight Foreign Tourists Killed, dozens injured

Theguardian.com reported Canberran Kurt Steel among eight foreigners killed when bus ran off highway en route from Salar de Uyuni to La Paz. An Australian was among 10 people killed in Bolivia when a bus returning to La Paz from the Salar de Uyuni salt flats ran off the highway and crashed, police said. Police […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Ollague Chile: Two Bolivians detained transporting cocaine on inter-provincial bus

biobiochile.cl reported in an unusual event, in step border Ollague, in the Antofagasta Region, staff of the national customs service surprised two young Bolivians transporting drug in ovoid in their stomachs and their clothes. Subjects were travelling in an inter-provincial bus and were selected among the passengers for a more thorough review by officials of […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: New Species of Bat Discovered, Golden in Color

bbc.com reported a golden bat from Bolivia has been described as a new species by scientists. Myotis midastactus had previously been classified as another bat found in South America called Myotis simus. But examination of a collection of museum specimens suggested the existence of a different species, thought to live only in Bolivia. Its most […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Potosi Bolivia: Grave with 400 unearthed, belieed to be colonial miners

According to BBC.com, a grave containing at least 400 people has been unearthed in the Bolivian city of Potosi, with the remains thought to be those of colonial-era miners. The grave was found by workers carrying out excavations for the construction of a new building. The mine at Potosi became the world’s biggest after silver […]

No CommentsRead this post »

U.S. Southern Border: 117 % increase in children 12 and younger crossing illegally

latimes.com reported…Not only have more unaccompanied children illegally crossed the southern border this year — more than twice last year’s total — but they are crossing at much younger ages, according to a study released this week. There has been a 117% increase in apprehensions among unaccompanied children ages 12 and younger and a 12% […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia to permit ten year old children to work

theguardian.com reported children as young as 10 could legally work in Bolivia under legislation expected to be signed into law by the president, Evo Morales, this week. The legal working age in Bolivia has long been 14, and older teens are in theory restricted to jobs that do not damage their health and wellbeing. But […]

No CommentsRead this post »

U.N. reports coca growing areas decrease in Bolivia, Peru, stable in Colombia

bbc.com reported figures released by the United Nations suggest the area planted with coca – the raw ingredient for cocaine – has diminished in Peru and Bolivia. Peru is the world’s top grower of the crop, and Bolivia is the third largest. In Colombia, the second largest grower, the amount of land sustaining coca bushes […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Starbucks to expand in Colombia, Bolivia

fool.com/AP reported Starbucks says it is expanding in Latin America, reaching further into some countries well-known for coffee production. The Seattle-based coffee company said Wednesday that it will open its first cafe in Colombia this summer through a joint venture with Alsea and Grupo Nutresa. The joint venture plans to expand aggressively in Bogota over […]

No CommentsRead this post »

1500 children live with a parent in Bolivian prisons

theguardian.com reported that inmates keep children inside with them fearing they will fall victim to abuse in homes on the outside. According to official figures, 1,500 Bolivian children live with a parent behind bars, but the total could be much higher – especially during school holidays when children visit incarcerated parents. Hundreds of women and […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia, Peru: deforestation in the Andean highlands major problem

IPSnews.net reported that deforestation, especially in the Andean highlands of Bolivia and Peru, was the main driver of this year’s disastrous flooding in the Madeira river watershed in Bolivia’s Amazon rainforest and the drainage basin across the border, in Brazil. That is the assessment of Marc Dourojeanni, professor emeritus at the National Agrarian University in […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Women in Bolivia Face Culture of Harassment

bbc.com reported…Two years after the murder of an outspoken female councillor ushered in new legislation outlawing political violence against women in Bolivia, campaigners say a culture of harassment remains, as Paula Dear reports from La Paz. Women’s domestic, childcare and – in rural areas – agricultural responsibilities can make fulfilling their public roles difficult, discouraging […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: victims of human rights violations during military rule denied access to justice

Thousands of victims of human rights violations committed during 18 years of military rule in Bolivia are being denied access to justice and compensation, according to Amnesty International. Paula Dear and Amaru Villanueva Rance report from La Paz on allegations that there is a lack of political will to uncover the truth. Read Article

No CommentsRead this post »

Governments in Latin America Accused of Harrassment by Indigenous Activists

dw.de reported that Indigenous activists in Bolivia and other Latin American countries who take to the streets to protest the exploitation of their ancestral homelands face repressive measures and charges of terrorism. In many Latin American countries, the measures taken against protesters are rather repressive, according to Almut Schilling Vacaflor, Latin American expert from the […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: Danish foundation expelled for alleged meddling in Indigenous issues

Edmonton Journal AP reported that a Danish foundation is being expelled from Bolivia for taking sides in a leadership struggle for control of one of the nation’s biggest indigenous organizations, the government announced Friday. Presidential aide Juan Ramon Quintana said that Copenhagen-based IBIS “abused” the government’s hospitality and has been intervening in the nation’s internal […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia looking for more Chinese investments

Bolivia said on Thursday that it welcomes more Chinese companies in the Latin American country, promising a better investment environment. Bolivian President Evo Morales made the remarks during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The three-day visit will also see Morales traveling to Southwest China to watch the launch of Bolivia’s first […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia alleges U.S. had hand in escape of Jacob Ostreicher

Reuters.com reported that – Bolivia on Wednesday accused the United States of helping a New York businessman escape from the South American country where he had spent 18 months in prison and was under house arrest for alleged money laundering. Interior Minister Carlos Romero said Washington orchestrated a clandestine operation that spirited Jacob Ostreicher, 54, […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: Mystery as to how U.S. businessman escaped house arrest, arrives in U.S.

mercurynews.com (AP) reported that little is being revealed about Jacob Ostreicher’s flight from house arrest in Bolivia and into the care of actor-activist Sean Penn. The New York businessman arrived in the U.S. on Monday after an ordeal that began more than two years ago when he was detained as part of a money laundering […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Chile reiterates refusal to provide Boliva with outlet to the Pacific Ocean

Santiago de Chile, Nov 28 (Prensa Latina) Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfredo Moreno today reiterated Chile”s refusal to provide Bolivia with an outlet to the Pacific Ocean, while Bolivia remains at The Hague with its demand for sovereign access to the sea. In an interview with the Pulso newspaper, Moreno said that his country “is […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia-Iran Relations

Wikipedia: Source Economic relations Iran has invested in Bolivian infrastructure[citation needed] and other projects. Iran’s ambassador ro Bolivia said his country would open two low-cost public health clinics in the country, which is South America’s poorest. Iranian business attache Hojjatollah Soltani said his country planned to use Bolivia as a base for future Red Crescent […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia gearing up for nuclear power development

ww4report.com…..Bolivia’s President Evo Morales said Oct. 28 that his country has achieved the conditions to obtain nuclear power for “pacific ends,” and that Argentina and France would help “with their knowledge.” He made his comments at the opening of a “Hydrocarbon Sovereignty” conference in Tarija. In May, Bolivia and Argentina signed an accord on nuclear […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela on map of among least friendly to foreign visitors

Washingtonpost.com (blogs) reported – Buried several hundred pages into a new World Economic Forum report on global tourism, past the sections on air travel infrastructure and physician density (by which they mean the number of physicians per capita, not the mass-per-cubic-meter of individual doctors), are some very interesting numbers. The WEF has compiled survey data […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia now maritime nation after signing deal with Peru

theguardian.com reported…It might be a strip of sand without even a jetty but a small stretch of the Pacific coast now harbours Bolivia’s dream of regaining a coast and becoming a maritime nation. The landlocked Andean country has won access to a desolate patch of Peru’s shoreline, fuelling hopes that Bolivia will once again have […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: Plane drops one million dollars in package over Santa Cruz

foxnews.com reported that an anti-drug squad in the South American country seized $1 million in US dollars on Sunday after the money was dropped in a plastic bag from a small plane flying over Santa Cruz province, The Telegraph reports. Bolivia’s Interior Minister, Carlos Romero, said the money was withdrawn from a bank in Paraguay […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia’s President Calls for UN to be moved out of the U.S.

In his dramatic speech in New York, Bolivian President Evo Morales called for the UN to be moved out of the US and for Barack Obama to be tried for crimes against humanity. Speaking to RT, Morales explained his controversial proposals. In his most controversial demand, Morales said that Obama should face an international trial […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: 16 Dead, many injured and missing as two buses caught in avalanche

Extra.ec reported from AFP – On September 23, 2013, two buses were were caught in an avalanche 180 km from La Paz. The bus and mini-bus were swept into the Cajones River. The event took place Monday afternnon and rescuers were still searching for survivors and the dead on Tuesday. Current statistics indicate there are […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivian Narcotraffickers using clandestine airfields in Peru to transport to Brazil, Europe

Elcomercio.pe reported that these clandestine airfields are used by Bolivian drug traffickers to transport loads up to there and from there distributed to Brazil and Europe. According to police reports, in the area of Vraem , Ene river basin, where yesterday there was the capture of five suspected drug traffickers , have a dozen clandestine […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Molina, Chile: Court Sentences Father and Daughter for Labor Trafficking

On August 28, 2013 Emol Noticias reported the sentencing of Manuel Espinoza and his daughter Paola Espinoza Provoste each to 5 years imprisonment. The sentence against the accused for the crime of human trafficking for labor exploitation is the first of its kind in Chile. Espinoza and his daughter were found guilty of trafficking approximately […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Brasilia, Brazil: Arrival of Corruptive Senator in Brazil Will Not Affect Bilateral Relations

Globo reported on August 25, 2013 that the Bolivian Senator who took asylum in the Brazilian embassy in La Paz since May 28, 2012 will not affect relations between both countries according to the Bolivian Minister of Communication. As Senator Roger Pinto arrived in Brazil on the 24th, he no longer has refugee status and […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Melee in Bolivian Prison leaves many dead, injured

aljazeera.com reported that at least 15 inmates have been killed, many in a fire, in a battle among prisoners for control of part of an overcrowded maximum-security jail in in Bolivia’s east, the national police chief said. Chief Alberto Aracena said at least seven of the 50 injured were in critical condition after the melee […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Molina, Chile: Father and Daughter Sentenced for Human Trafficking

On August 23, 2013 Red Maule Noticias reported that Manuel Espinoza and his daughter Paola Espinoza Provoste have been sentenced on charges of labor trafficking. The two were found guilty of participating in the trafficking of over sixty Bolivians to work installing high tension towers. The prosecution has requested five years imprisonment for Espinoza and […]

No CommentsRead this post »

La Paz, Bolivia: Cosmetics Distributor Copamar Investigated for Human Trafficking

On August 21, 2013 La Prensa Noticias reported that cosmetics distributor Copamar, which operates in La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and Tarija, is being investigated on suspicion of trafficking approximately 200 young women between 18 and 25 years old. According to prosecutor Humberto Quispe, Copamar would investigate the social and family lives of the girls […]

No CommentsRead this post »

La Paz, Bolivia: 3 Copamar Employees Charged with Human Trafficking, Fraud

On August 20, 2013 La Razón Noticias reported the arrest of three individuals accused of defrauding and trafficking victims through the company Copamar. Attorney General Humberto Quispe informed last night that the suspects were initially charged with scamming young people with the false promise of joining the perfume-selling company in exchange for 2,100 bolivianos (around […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: farmer claims diet of quinoa, mushrooms, coca leaves key to his longevity

FRASQUIA, Bolivia — Bolivian indigenous farmer Carmelo Flores, who could be the oldest person to have ever lived, attributes his longevity to quinoa grains, riverside mushrooms and around-the-clock chewing of coca leaves. Speaking in the 4,000-meter high hamlet where he lives in a straw-roofed hut, Flores says the traditional Andean diet has kept him alive […]

No CommentsRead this post »

60 Trafficking Victims Rescued in San Luis, Córdoba and Tucumán, Argentina

On August 14, 2013 Notiamérica Noticias reported the rescue of 60 trafficking victims during a series of police operation in the provinces of San Luis, Córdoba and Tucumán. The first operation took place at a potato farm in San Luis where police rescued 13 victims of labor exploitation. Police then rescued 45 people in Malvinas […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil: Police Discover 443 kilograms of Cocaine Hydrochloride

Globo reported on August 9, 2013 that the Federal Police and the Special Border Security force confiscated 443 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride in Vila Bela Holy Trinity, Mato Grosso do Sul. An aircraft directed to a farm designated for delivery delivered the drug. Police report the amount of drugs seized is valued at around R$20 […]

No CommentsRead this post »

General Güemes, Argentina: Police Rescue Child Sex Trafficking Victim, Arrest Traffickers

On August 10, 2013 La Nación reported the rescue of a 15-year-old sex trafficking victim in the town of General Güemes, 50 miles north of Salta. During the operation, police also arrested two men suspected of sex trafficking and pimping, a Bolivian and a man from the province of Chaco. They are accused of forcing […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Textile Mill Owner Arrested for Labor Trafficking

On August 8, 2013 26 Noticias reported the arrest of a textile mill owner on charges of labor trafficking. The suspect, a Bolivian male, was arrested after the Federal Public Revenue Administration (AFIP) reported four children and six adults were working illegally at the textile mill. The agency also found that employees were forced to […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Cochabamba, Bolivia: Brothel Owner Arrested for Hiring Underage Prostitute

On August 4, 2013 Opinión Noticias reported a police raid on the “La Curva” brothel in Cochabamba after authorities discovered that a 17-year-girl was working there as a prostitute. The girl managed to disguise her real age and gain employment by using a falsified ID. During the operation, police also arrested the brothel’s owner, María […]

No CommentsRead this post »

La Paz, Bolivia: Enslaved Boy Escapes Drug Traffickers

On August 5, 2013 El Nuevo Empresario Noticias reported the escape of an 11-year-old boy from a group of drug traffickers that had forced the child to work in their cocaine production operation. The boy had been kidnapped from his home in Potosí, in one of the poorest regions of the country, where he was […]

No CommentsRead this post »

El Alto, Bolivia: Peruvian Drugs Prevented from Reaching Brazil

From lainformacion.com on August 1, 2013- Bolivian police seized 144 kilos of Peruvian cocaine from the car of a Bolivian citizen who was planning to transport the drug to Brazil. The operation was carried out in a Bolivian town on the border with Peru. It is believed that the drugs came from the VRAEM region […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Police Arrest Couple for Human Trafficking

On July 31, 2013 Nuevo Diario Noticias reported the arrest of Daniel Soriano and his partner María Ester Yancarelli on charges of human trafficking. The arrests occurred following inspections on their farms which showed overcrowding, unsafe working and living conditions and unregistered workers, among other infractions. The couple is accused of exploiting the labor of […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Santa Cruz, Bolivia: Plaintiff’s Lawyer Upset Human Trafficking Suspect Given House Arrest

On July 29, 2013 El Deber Noticias reported that Judge Lidia Alarcón has released Eduardo D.G.M. on house arrest pending a trial involving him and two 17-year-old teenagers for human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Eduardo D.G.M. was arrested on Friday near Sonilum as he prepared to leave in his car with a 17-year-old girl, to […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Textile Factory Manager Arrested for Human Trafficking

On July 26, 2013 Buenos Aires Ciudad Noticias reported that police have arrested the manager of a textile factory in the Flores district of Buenos Aires on charges of human trafficking. The factory produced clothing for several brands, including Siamo Fuori and Pido Gancho. The manager is accused of holding captive two foreign workers, a […]

No CommentsRead this post »

La Laja, Bolivia: 400 Kilos of Cocaine Seized, Two Arrested

From La Republica on July 26, 2013- An intelligence group, the Special Force against Drug Trafficking in Bolivia (FELCN), seized nearly 400 kilos of Peruvian cocaine in the city of La Laja, Boliva. The drugs were hidden in the fuel tank of a truck on the road known as Desaguadero. The drugs were destined for […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Santa Cruz, Bolivia: Child Forced by Grandfather into Stealing

On July 24, 2013 El Mundo Noticias reported that market sellers in Santa Cruz found a 9-year-old girl shoplifting items from a merchant stall. According to one of the market sellers, this was not the first instance of the girl attempting to steal from them. Police arrived at the scene after receiving a call by […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Search Continues for 65 Bolivian Children Trafficked to Brazil

On July 23, 2013 El Deber Noticias reported that between February and June of this year, 65 Bolivian children and adolescents were trafficked into Brazil. According to official sources, the current whereabouts of the 65 victims remains unknown. The Public Ministry reported that in addition to five suspects currently in custody, police are seeking three […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Cochabamba Bolivia to offer amnesty to users of clandestine water, sewage connecitons

The Authority for Drinking Water and Sanitation (AAPS) announced that in the coming weeks will have an amnesty to regularize illegal connections of water and sewerage in the city of Cochabamba, as similar to that already used in the cities of La Paz and El Alto . “We are planning at least until the end […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Laja, Bolivia: Authorities Seize 294 Kilos of Peruvian Cocaine Heading for Brazil

From Cambio on July 23, 2013- Bolivia’s Special Forces in the Fight Against Drug-trafficking seized 294 kilos of cocaine from Peru that was presumably heading for Brazil. The drugs were hidden in the false bed of a truck, and the operation led to the arrest of two individuals with charges of drug trafficking. The drugs […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Santa Cruz, Bolivia: Four Arrested for Human Trafficking

On July 22, 2013 El Deber Noticias reported that police have arrested the owner, manager, security guard and waiter of an establishment located in the Oruro Public Square in Santa Cruz. The four arrested are suspected of trafficking local children for the purpose of sexual and labor exploitation. During the operation, authorities also found three […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Puerto Suárez, Bolivia: Judge Among Suspects Arrested on Human Trafficking Charges

On July 18, 2013 El Deber Noticias reported that a judge in Puerto Suarez and his clerk were arrested along with two other people yesterday, as two prosecutors investigate alleged instances of human trafficking. Under Article 9 of Law 260 of the Public Ministry, prosecutors investigating the case have asked for complete confidentially in order […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Cotoca, Bolivia: 2 Child Sex Trafficking Victims Rescued, Suspects Arrested

On July 19, 2013 El Mundo Noticias reported that authorities have arrested two suspects accused of kidnapping two girls, 13 and 9 years old respectively, for sexual and labor exploitation. The subjects arrested were identified as Alfredo Mendoza and José Lino Vargas. According to the 13-year-old girl, Mendoza was the one who abducted her by […]

No CommentsRead this post »

El Alto, Bolivia: Between 2 and 3 Children Disappear Every Day

On July 15, 2013 La Razón Noticias reported that, according to records of the Special Crime-Fighting Force, between two and three children disappear in the city of El Alto every day. Additionally, 20% of said cases go unsolved. Authorities suspect that the children and adolescents who go missing from their homes may be victims of […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Cochabamba, Bolivia: Police Find Missing Teenager, Arrest Two Female Suspects

On July 12, 2013 Opinión Noticias reported the case of a 12 year old girl who went missing in Cochabamba on Tuesday, July 9. After her mother began searching for the teenager at her friends’ homes, she found out her daughter was being held captive at a residential home located in the southern part of […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Potosí, Bolivia: Police Suspect Recently Shut Down Bar Employed Underage Escorts

On July 9, 2013 El Potosí Noticias reported that municipal authorities in Potosí are investigating a bar that had previously been shut down permanently, on suspicion that two children under 16 years worked there as “escorts.” According to a complaint forwarded to the Attorney General, apart from the two underage escorts there were others who […]

No CommentsRead this post »

El Alto, Bolivia: Second “Human Trafficking and Femicide Prevention Walk” Held

On July 5, 2013 El Diario Nacional Noticias reported that El Alto has held its second “Human Trafficking and Femicide Prevention Walk.” According to event organizers, the purpose of the walk was to reflect and to sensitize families from the area on trafficking. Following the walk, organizers held a dramatization dealing with the issue of […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Poconé, Brazil: Bolivian Pilot Arrested for Transporting 413 kg of Cocaine

circuitomt.com.br reported on July 5, 2013 that the Federal Police and other government agencies arrested in Poconé, Mato Grosso, a Bolivian pilot accused of transporting 413 kilograms of cocaine via aircraft. The suspect managed to escape after the seizure of drugs this past Tuesday (2). During the operation, two suspects: the co-pilot and another victim […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Copacabana, Bolivia: Authorities Seize 104 Kilos of Cocaine, Detain Three People

From Trome on July 5, 2013- Bolivian police seized 104 kilos of cocaine and arrested three people in the city of Copacabana on the Bolivia-Peru border. Among those arrested were two Bolivians and one Peruvian. According to the authorities, the cache of drugs was to be shipped to the Brazilian border. Read Article

No CommentsRead this post »

El Alto, Bolivia: Police and Military to Organize Plays On Human Trafficking

On July 5, 2013 El Diario Nacional Noticias reported that members of the police and military in the city of El Alto are set to present plays dealing with human trafficking. According to event organizers, the main objective of the plays is to raise community awareness, especially amongst children, concerning strangers who try to kidnap […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Ponta Pora, Brazil: Drug Traffickers Detained for Smuggling Cocaine

Globo reported on July 3, 2013 that the Civil Police in Ponta Pora, Mato Grosso do Sul, detained three suspects part of gang led by the largest drug dealer in the Federal District of Brasilia. The suspects are accused of receiving and transporting cocaine from other countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, and Paraguay to the […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Mato Grosso, Brazil: Police Seize 400 kg of Drugs on Airplane from Bolivia

On July 3, 2013 Globo reported that a Federal Police operation in Poconé, Mato Grosso confiscated 400 pounds of drugs on an airplane from Bolivia. The police intercepted the plane as drug traffickers were unloading the drugs. The police seized US $500,000 hidden in bag that was possibly used for to pay for the drugs. […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: Hairdresser Charged With Human Trafficking and Pimping

On July 4, 2013 Correo del Sur Noticias reported the arrest of a hairdresser on charges of human trafficking and pimping. During a raid on the salon, police found condoms and women’s undergarments, which suggests that it functioned as a center for recruiting women for illicit activities. The hairdresser was also known to publish newspaper […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivias President’s plane forced to land in Austria, suspected of carrying Snowden

Bolivia has said President Evo Morales’ plane was forced to land in Austria after France and Portugal refused air permits, apparently because they suspected it was carrying Edward Snowden, the former US spy agency contractor wanted by Washington on espionage charges. Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca on Tuesday furiously accused France and Portugal of putting […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Belo Horizonte, Brazil: Bolivian and Two Others Detained for “Mule” Drug Trafficking Scheme

R7 reported on June 28, 2013, that three suspects; one being Bolivian, were detained in Belo Horizonte for international drug trafficking. Civil Police discovered several cocaine capsules to be transported via the body by people known as “mules”. The drugs found are considered “fish scale”. Read Article

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia Fighting Child Exploitation Through National Network, Changes to Code for Children

On June 28, 2013 La Razón reported in Bolivia the recent formation of the National Child and Adolescent Sexual Violence Network, comprising 24 institutions and organizations that will coordinate actions in preventing and eradicating sexual violence against children and adolescents. The formation of this network coincides with the spread of a proposed amendment to the […]

No CommentsRead this post »

El Alto, Bolivia: Police Rescue Two Kidnapping Victims

On June 21, 2013 La Razón reported that authorities arrested in El Alto have apprehended three people involved in the kidnapping of two 17-year-old girls. The girls were rescued from the O’Higgins lodging house, where they supposedly remained locked up for two days on the third floor of the building. The suspects allegedly allowed the […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: Police Operation Results in 826 Arrests in 4 Days

On June 14, 2013 La Razón reported that a police operation using a deployment of 562 soldiers resulted in the apprehension of 826 people in the city of El Alto over a four day span. The suspects are accused of crimes including theft, fraud, reckless driving and travel with altered license plates, among others. The […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: 848,000 Children Working in Hazardous Conditions

On June 13, 2013 Jornada reported a study performed in coordination with the National Statistics Institute (INE) indicating that 848, 000 children aged 5-14 are currently working under dangerous conditions in Bolivia. Many of the activities include cane and chestnut harvesting, mining, fishing, bricklaying, the sale of alcoholic beverages, garbage collection, cleaning hospitals and security […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Chile: Government Grants Visas to 64 Bolivian Trafficking Victims

On June 17, 2013 Opinión reported that the Chilean government earlier this month granted humanitarian visas to 64 Bolivians who were working illegally in Chile and who were victims of trafficking. The victims were contacted in Cochabamba by subcontractor representative Paola Espinoza Limitada, who had promised them good job prospects but later entered them into […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: Justice Minister Summoned to Report on Laws Protecting Women

On June 15, 2013 El Deber reported that the Bolivian Minister of Justice, Cecilia Ayllón, has been summoned by the Commission on Social Policy of the House of Representatives to give an oral report on the applicability of the laws in place to protect women. The three specific laws to be discussed deal with combatting […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Ecuador and Bolivia Assess Progress in Fight Against Drugs and Human Trafficking

On June 14, 2013 La Razón reported that the respective Interior Ministers of Ecuador and Bolivia, José Serrano and Carlos Romero, have met in Quito to assess their countries’ progress in policies targeting drugs and human trafficking, including migrant smuggling. According to a statement from the Ecuadoran Ministry of Interior, the two ministers also discussed […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivian Anti-Drug Operation Discovers Traffickers’ Workshop and Makes Arrests

From La Estrella del Oriente on June 18, 2013- Agents of the Special Force against Drug Trafficking (FELCN) led at least six operations that resulted in several arrests and the discovery of a workshop where luggage was being prepared to smuggle drugs. The workshop was discovered in Palmasola, and two people were detained during the […]

No CommentsRead this post »

64 Bolivians Victims of Trafficking in Chile

On June 2, 2013 FM Bolivia reported the case of sixty-four Bolivian immigrants who were trafficked into Chile. Six people are currently being prosecuted before Chilean courts. The Bolivians, originally from Cochabamba, worked illegally in setting up high tension towers for the private company Paola Espinoza in Molina, more than 200 kilometers from Santiago de […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Human Trafficking Not Included in 13-Point Agenda Between Bolivia, Chile

On June 2, 2013 FM Bolivian reported that the topic of immigrant smuggling and human trafficking is not included in the on-going 13-point agenda between Bolivia and Chile. The agenda items do deal with border issues, including border integration, free movement and physical integration. However, the issue of border security cooperation is related to the […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Argentina: 8 Stand Trial for Labor Exploitation of 57 Bolivians

On June 2, 2013 the Argentinian Judicial Information Center reported that eight individuals will stand trial on charges of labor exploitation. Defendants Juan Carlos Quispe, Wilma Chacolla Marca, Valentín Mamani Lecoña, Graciela Choquetarqui Marca and Virginia Mamani Lecoña are accused of trafficking, forced servitude and maintaining illegal immigrants. Efraín Serrano Mamani, Santos Álcon Huanacuni, Agustín […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Porto Velho, Brazil: Portuguese Travelers Detained at Airport for Smuggling Cocaine

rondoniadinamica.com reported on May 30, 2013, that on Tuesday (28) the Federal Police arrested two Portuguese travelers at the Porto Velho airport for smuggling 4 kilos of cocaine hydrochloride strapped to their bodies. The couple traveled to Rondônia to purchase cocaine in Bolivia to sell in Vigo, Spain. Read Article

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia Initiates Plan Against Child Labor Exploitation

On May 29, 2013 La Prensa reported the Bolivian Ministry of Labor along with several other organizations has initiated a campaign targeting the labor exploitation of children and adolescents and domestic labor for younger children. The campaign is set to begin on June 12. The child labor specialist for the Ministry of Labor, Mabel Duran […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: Peruvian Drug Traffickers Resist Bolivian Coca Eradication Efforts

From Lainformacion on May 28, 2013- The Bolivian government has reported that Peruvian citizens, with known ties to drug traffickers, in the town of Apollo, 450 km north of La Paz, have been actively resisting coca eradication efforts. In Apollo, about 30 people tried to prevent a joint task force of Bolivian armed forces and […]

No CommentsRead this post »

Bolivia: Four Teenage Victims of Rape in Santa Cruz

On May 24, 2013 FM Bolivia reported the case of four rape victims in Santa Cruz. The attorney for the four teenage girls, Jorge David Suárez, is seeking to prevent the release of three suspects who are also accused of belonging to a trafficking network. According to Suárez, the assailant followed his victims home from […]

No CommentsRead this post »