HomeNewsBriefIran to Train Bolivia Police in Drug Ops
BRIEF

Iran to Train Bolivia Police in Drug Ops

BOLIVIA / 19 JUL 2012 BY TRACEY KNOTT EN

Iran will provide training and equipment to Bolivia’s anti-drug task force, demonstrating Bolivia’s determination to look beyond the United States for allies in its fight against drug trafficking.

On June 20, President Evo Morales of Bolivia and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad signed a bilateral agreement to strengthen the Andean country’s fight against drugs, during the Iranian leader's South America visit. The pact is geared at decreasing the production, distribution, trafficking and abuse of drugs in Bolivia, explained Bolivia’s El Diario.

According to drug czar Felipe Caceres, cited in El Nuevo Herald, the agreement specified that the Iranian military will train 10 anti-narcotics officers in intelligence and planning operations. Iran will also provide communications equipment for Bolivia’s anti-drug task force.

It is not yet clear when or where the training will take place.

InSight Crime Analysis

In the past, the United States had been heavily involved in anti-drug efforts in Bolivia. However, in 2008, Morales expelled representatives from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), accusing them of supporting opposition leaders against the Morales administration. Diplomatic relations with the US were only re-established in 2011.

Bolivia has turned to nations other than the US to support its fight against drug trafficking. In January 2012, Bolivia made a coca monitoring deal with the US and Brazil, relying on the US for equipment and training while turning to its South American neighbor for satellite imagery and analysis. According to the Miami Herald, Brazil has also provided Bolivia with reconnaissance drones to locate cocaine processing labs.

This agreement between Bolivia and Iran is yet another indicator that Bolivia is seeking new allies in its counternarcotics operations. Bolivia established diplomatic relations with Iran in 2006, and this is the third time Ahmadinejad has visited the South American country since then.

Iran has built closer ties to several Latin American countries in recent years, particularly Venezuela, a close Bolivian ally. On June 18, El Nuevo Herald reported that Iran had been providing Venezuela with drones. There is also a fear, so far with little evidence to support it, that Iran has been funding Hezbollah operations in Latin America.

share icon icon icon

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

What are your thoughts? Click here to send InSight Crime your comments.

We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article.

Tags

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

Related Content

BOLIVIA / 22 JUL 2021

A recent clash between soldiers and smugglers has pointed to how Bolivia’s trade in contraband has reached a flashpoint.

ARGENTINA / 8 FEB 2023

InSight Crime's 2022 Homicide Round-Up covers more countries than ever before, with a major expansion into nations of the Caribbean.

BOLIVIA / 9 AUG 2022

Politicians are pushing for the Chilean government to declare a state of emergency in the northern regions including Tarapacá…

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

All Eyes on Ecuador

2 JUN 2023

Our coverage of organized crime in Ecuador continues to be a valuable resource for international and local news outlets. Internationally, Reuters cited our 2022 Homicide Round-Up,…

WORK WITH US

Open Position: Social Media and Engagement Strategist

27 MAY 2023

InSight Crime is looking for a Social Media and Engagement Strategist who will be focused on maintaining and improving InSight Crime’s reputation and interaction with its audiences through publishing activities…

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela Coverage Receives Great Reception

27 MAY 2023

Several of InSight Crime’s most recent articles about Venezuela have been well received by regional media. Our article on Venezuela’s colectivos expanding beyond their political role to control access to…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime's Chemical Precursor Report Continues

19 MAY 2023

For the second week in a row, our investigation into the flow of precursor chemicals for the manufacture of synthetic drugs in Mexico has been cited by multiple regional media…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime’s Chemical Precursor Report Widely Cited

THE ORGANIZATION / 12 MAY 2023

We are proud to see that our recently published investigation into the supply chain of chemical precursors feeding Mexico’s synthetic drug production has been warmly received.