The Minister of Public Works, Edgar Montaño, announced the dismissal of RC, regional director of Air Navigation of Bolivian Airports (Naabol) in Santa Cruz, after the discovery of 192 rifles at the Viru Viru airport.
“We have already dismissed the regional director of Naabol, but in addition to that we have joined the complaint. We are not going to contemplate anything that refers to the issue of drugs or illicit acts,” Montaño stated at a press conference.
The former director of Naabol was arrested on Thursday for his alleged involvement in the trafficking of 192 heavy caliber weapons. The prosecutors’ commission found evidence that links him to the case, after his statement as a witness.
The commission of prosecutors determined that RC could have facilitated the entry of these weapons without complying with the corresponding legal procedures, which led to his arrest.
In addition, the Prosecutor’s Office arrested a lawyer whom he allegedly helped by expediting the legal procedures for Customs to dispatch these weapons that arrived from Türkiye, according to El Deber.
“An investigation is already underway. The people that the prosecutors and experts in the matter believe are involved are being summoned and we open our doors so that all officials can go to testify if warranted,” Montaño said.
The case refers to the illegal importation of 192 weapons for military use that arrived from Turkey, passed through Colombia and were found on September 21 in the warehouses of the Santa Cruz airport. The weapons, which include assault rifles, shotguns and carbines, had to have authorization from the Ministry of Defense for their entry into the country, as they are war material for exclusive use.
In addition to RC, two former uniformed officers—a former military officer and a former police officer—are also involved in the case, as are other public officials who could have collaborated in the entry of weapons into the country.
BD/AGT
