Bolivia arrests former judge on suspicion of drug trafficking
Bolivian authorities have arrested a former senior judge on suspicion of drug trafficking, as part of a US-backed crackdown against officials involved in suspected cartel activity in Latin America.
Prosecutor Marcelo Inchausti confirmed that Aldo Quezada was arrested at his home in Santa Cruz on Wednesday. The former judge had resigned last month as chief justice of the Santa Cruz departmental court after being named to a US visa restrictions list for alleged links to drug trafficking.
Regional Crackdown
The United States has implemented visa restrictions against officials in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru under the same policy targeting suspected cartel involvement. Quezada is one of several senior Bolivian judicial officials arrested since September on similar charges.
Former Attorney General Roger Mariaca was arrested on September 30 on suspicion of money laundering and drug trafficking, with police discovering bundles of cash smuggled from his residence.
New Political Direction
Bolivia's conservative President Rodrigo Paz assumed office on November 8, 2025, ending nearly 20 years of Movement for Socialism governance. Paz has sought closer ties to the US and signed Bolivia up to President Donald Trump's 'Shield of the Americas' security alliance.
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