Bolivian authorities seize US$1 million drug money drop

Originally published on October 3, 2013

Bolivian police have seized more than US$1 million in alleged drug money after it was thrown from a plane as part of a suspected drugs transaction.

Police swooped after officers from the anti-narcotics squad FELCN spotted the money being thrown from a plane near the remote town of Pozo de Tigre in Santa Cruz.

In a statement, the government said that the incident took place during a routine operation at a clandestine airstrip. Police noticed a man mysteriously waving to the sky and moments later a plane appeared.

According to Reuters, "'From the plane a package was thrown, then with the presence of the Public Ministry (authorities) proceeded to open it and established it was a large amount of money, $1,080,000, exactly, in different bundles,'" said Bolivian Interior Minister Carlos Romero.

"Prosecutors from the Marina Flores district reported to media that the seized money was possibly to settle a drug trafficking debt."

"Local media reported three people who had tried to collect the money from the ground have been arrested."

"Romero told media the money has been traced back to a bank in Paraguay.
'It's been established that these bills were withdrawn from a Paraguayan bank since the bundles correspond with a bank's identification in Paraguay. Likewise, an envelope shows the hiring of a transport company.'

"Landlocked Bolivia is one of the world's largest coca producers, the raw ingredient used in cocaine."

The agents also seized two cars, two rifles, a machine gun and three phones, according to authorities.

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