Overview
- Mariaca was detained at Viru Viru airport, which multiple sources confirmed late Wednesday, and authorities also arrested Santa Cruz prosecutor Alberto Zeballos and at least a dozen other officials and staff.
- The government says Mariaca faces charges for organization criminal, money laundering and drug trafficking and reported seizing large sums of cash, including bundles found hidden in an ambulance near his home.
- The Public Prosecutor’s Office has denounced Mariaca’s detention as illegal and reported police raids on Fiscalía offices in Sucre and other cities that it says violated procedure.
- The arrests came days after the U.S. Department of State revoked visas for Mariaca and others for alleged corruption and Bolivian officials said U.S. anti‑drug agencies provided operational support to the police.
- The case heightens political stakes because Mariaca led high‑profile probes including the Cerimedo investigation, Luis Montaño declared himself interim head of the Fiscalía and the executive has asked the legislature to resolve the vacancy.