The Bolivian newspaper Deber reported on Tuesday that authorities foiled an attempt to smuggle 123.1 kilograms of cocaine after discovering the drugs concealed inside the components of a dismantled hydraulic excavator being transported on a heavy-duty truck. According to the report, the shipment’s final destination was Libya.
The newspaper stated that the seizure resulted from a joint operation carried out by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and Bolivia’s Special Anti-Drug Trafficking Force (FELCN) at the customs facility in Tambo Quemado, located in Oruro Department.
According to the investigation, the operation began on 9 July, when officers from the FELCN inspected a heavy transport truck that had entered the multipurpose customs complex in Tambo Quemado carrying a container loaded with a dismantled hydraulic excavator.
The report said that during the inspection, X-ray scanning equipment and a detailed examination of the machinery revealed a suspicious white substance. A trained narcotics detection dog, Brutus, confirmed the suspicion, while a field Narco Test identified the substance as cocaine. The truck driver was immediately arrested.
The newspaper added that on 10 July, the equipment was transferred to the regional customs complex in Oruro – Pasto Grande, where investigators conducted a comprehensive inspection and official weighing process. Authorities discovered 109 packages concealed inside internal compartments of the excavator, with a total weight of 123.1 kilograms of cocaine.
According to shipping and transport documents, the excavator was scheduled to be exported from Bolivia through the port of Arica, Chile, before being shipped onward to Libya, suggesting the existence of an international trafficking route allegedly used by organized drug-smuggling networks.
The newspaper further reported that the Public Prosecutor’s Office stated investigations will continue to identify those who modified the machinery to conceal the drugs, the individuals or organizations that financed the smuggling operation, and any persons or companies involved in the logistics chain.
Authorities have not ruled out additional arrests as the investigation progresses, describing the seizure as one of the most significant blows dealt to drug trafficking networks in Oruro Province this year.
