Evo accuses that among the weaponry delivered by Del Castillo for the fight against drug trafficking there were telescopic sights and suppressors.

 Former President Evo Morales, during his program on Radio Kawsachun Coca, once again lashed out against the Minister of Government, Eduardo Del Castillo, referring to the recent delivery of equipment for the fight against drug trafficking that he provided to the Felcn in Cochabamba. He claimed that members of the national police, as well as the Armed Forces, revealed to him that among the weaponry there were telescopic sights and suppressors.

"That's for killing. When they shoot, it won't be heard because of the suppressors. On the other hand, the police tell us that we don't need weaponry, what we need are vehicles, patrols (...) So, that raises a lot of suspicion," he accused bluntly.

And the accusations continued: "I don't know if the minister is really sick, because a healthy, honest, responsible person for the nation speaks the truth. Bolivia is a transit point for cocaine, there are airstrips on the border with Peru. The people of Beni know this, the government knows this. Who controls the airstrips in the department of Beni?" he asked.

Hoping not to be mistaken, he stated that never, in the 14 years he was in government, had there been news of so many tons of cocaine from Bolivia, bound for Europe. "But now so many (tons) appear, I repeat once again, that there is no control at the border with Peru. Planes come in, go out, some crash, nobody reports," he accused.

Finally, he complained about the stigmatization, because now in matters of drug trafficking everything is against the Tropics, "as in neoliberal times, we only lack the return of the United States military base." Finally, for the former president and coca leader, the DEA continues to operate in our country. "USAID has officially returned with Áñez (former President Jeanine Áñez), and now with Lucho, USAID continues. That's also a way of how the government of Luis Arce has shifted to the right," he fired.

Background

Last Thursday, the Minister of Government delivered a fleet of aircraft and equipment to the Special Force for the Fight Against Drug Trafficking (Felcn) in the municipality of Chimoré, with the aim of strengthening the anti-drug fight in the Cochabamba Tropics region.

However, the equipment delivery was harshly criticized by Senator Leonardo Loza from the 'Evoist' wing of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) and coca grower from the Cochabamba Tropics region, who considered it a "provocation" to the region, a stronghold of former President Evo Morales.

"Some comrades were telling us that this seems like a provocation to the region," Loza said, as quoted by Los Tiempos newspaper.

The senator assured that the Felcn personnel themselves informed him that they do not need weapons, but rather their greatest need is to have air and land transportation means.