In a significant development, Bolivia's former anti-narcotics chief has been extradited to the United States to face federal drug trafficking charges in a New York court. Maximiliano Dávila, who held the position during the final months of Evo Morales' administration, is accused of aiding in the transportation of cocaine shipments to the U.S.
Dávila was flown to the U.S. on a private jet arranged for his extradition. The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his conviction. The charges against Dávila include conspiring to provide high-level protection for cocaine shipments and possession of illegal weapons.
The extradition was approved by Bolivia's Supreme Court following a drug investigation initiated by the DEA's Special Operations Division in 2017. The probe uncovered conversations where Dávila's associate boasted about using a military cargo plane to transport large quantities of cocaine into the U.S.
While Bolivia expelled the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in 2008, alleging a plot to overthrow the government, the relationship between the two countries has remained strained. The lack of diplomatic ties has persisted for over 15 years, further complicating legal proceedings in cases like Dávila's.
Despite the close association between Dávila and Morales, the former president has not been implicated in drug trafficking. Morales, a former coca grower, has been a vocal critic of the U.S.-led drug war in Latin America and has defended the traditional uses of coca leaves.
The extradition of Dávila marks a significant step in the fight against drug trafficking in Bolivia, one of the world's largest producers of cocaine. The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating drug-related crimes in the region.
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