Laundering: Opposition Suggests Investigating Evo for Tambaqui Breeding Amidst Cocaine Factories

 Alberto Astorga, a deputy for Comunidad Ciudadana, has suggested that, following revelations from the Ministry of Government, former president Evo Morales should be investigated for money laundering related to drug trafficking. This comes after the discovery of several tambaqui fish pools amidst seven cocaine production factories in some unions in Villa Tunari in the tropical region of Cochabamba.

In recent hours, Minister Eduardo del Castillo has characterized the January 11, 2023 raid on various unions, including Santivañez, Ismael Montes, 27 de junio, Central Independiente, and Central 14 de Septiembre in Villa Tunari, as historic. According to the authority, these unions had not been intervened by anti-drug police forces for two decades.

The police have released images obtained from a mobile phone, showing tambaqui fish breeding pools surrounded by coca plantations and cocaine factories. The piscicultural activity was initiated by Evo Morales in the Chapare as a supposed productive and alternative activity after his resignation from the presidency.

Del Castillo, through his social media, detailed that 25 mobile cocaine production factories were found and destroyed in the intervened unions, seizing 5,050 liters of liquid cocaine, equivalent to over 190.9 kilograms. In a more thorough search, they found an aluminum pot with 96.11 kilograms of cocaine base and a green container with over 14.87 kilograms of cocaine base.

Deputy Astorga asserted that these operations should be considered normal, as, in his opinion, "the Chapare is a drug trafficking factory." He praised Minister Del Castillo's action because after almost "three years of inactivity," measures are finally being taken against what seemed to be a complacency towards key players in drug trafficking.

Astorga advocated for these operations not to be the end but the beginning of militarization in the Chapare to unravel connections with big players in drug trafficking. He also pointed out that Evo Morales and Leonardo Loza, both parliamentarians from the region, have much to explain about the alleged promotion of drug production in the Chapare.

In Astorga's opinion, the tambaqui production appears to be a smokescreen, suggesting that, in reality, illicit activities are being laundered. Therefore, he considers it imperative to open an investigation against Evo Morales and conduct a thorough search at his residence to rule out possible connections to money laundering or knowledge of ties to major figures in drug trafficking.