La Paz: Bolivian authorities have arrested Attorney General Roger Mariaca along with 13 other people in an investigation into an alleged criminal organization accused of protecting drug traffickers and operating within the country’s justice system.

Mariaca was detained at Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz after authorities launched a wider operation involving prosecutors and other officials. The government said the investigation concerns alleged organized crime, money laundering and drug trafficking.

Arrest Follows U.S. Visa Restrictions

The arrest came only days after the United States revoked Mariaca’s visa and accused him of corruption and links to drug trafficking.

U.S. authorities alleged that Mariaca had abused his position by accepting bribes to facilitate drug-trafficking activities and help criminals avoid prosecution. Mariaca has rejected those allegations and described the U.S. accusations as political pressure.

14 People Detained

Bolivian Interior Minister Marco Antonio Oviedo said 14 people were detained during the operation.

Police also carried out searches connected with the investigation at prosecutorial facilities. The operation targeted what government officials described as a criminal network embedded within the justice system and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Cash Seized During Operation

Authorities also reported finding large amounts of cash during searches connected to the investigation.

According to government officials, four people were caught attempting to remove bundles of cash from Mariaca’s residence using an ambulance. Police reportedly recovered more than $300,000 in suspected proceeds.

Alleged Links to Drug Trafficking

The investigation has also focused on Mariaca’s earlier role as a prosecutor in Santa Cruz.

Government officials have linked the case to the 2023 detention and subsequent release of Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset. Authorities allege that Marset benefited from actions taken during that period, including the return of seized assets. Marset was later captured in Bolivia and transferred to the United States to face charges.

Mariaca Rejects Allegations

Mariaca has denied the accusations against him.

Bolivia’s Public Prosecutor’s Office also questioned the circumstances surrounding his detention, with prosecutors alleging that the arrest was carried out without a warrant and initially describing it as unlawful.

The competing accounts mean that the allegations remain subject to the ongoing legal investigation and judicial proceedings.

Broader Anti-Drug Investigation

The arrests form part of a wider effort by Bolivian authorities to investigate alleged corruption and connections between public officials and organized crime.

The case has attracted international attention because it involves the country’s highest-ranking prosecutor and comes amid increased cooperation between Bolivia and the United States on drug trafficking and organized crime.

The investigation is expected to continue as authorities examine financial records, alleged communications and the activities of the people detained in the operation.