One civilian killed, three soldiers seriously injured Thursday left A group of smugglers ambush a border control patrol It is in the town of Villazón in southern Bolivia, near the border with Argentina. The incident occurred this morning when eight soldiers from the Strategic Operations Command (CEO) were surprised by “six vehicles” belonging to a “shock or advanced group of smugglers”, Daniel Vargas, Deputy Minister of Anti-Smuggling, reported.
Vargas said the CEO launched an operation “on a secret route” in Villazón after learning about the entry of a group of trucks carrying illegal goods, but they were cornered by “smugglers’ forward guards” who surrounded and beat up the army. . The smugglers managed to “kidnap” the three soldiers, which caused one of them to engage in “self-defense”. fire your gun and will kill to one of his attackersVargas noted.
The deputy minister said eight members of the CEO were injured, but three of them were “seriously injured” and the person needs to seek medical attention in a highly specialized centre. Vargas pointed out that “armed shock groups” of smugglers face clearing a route so trucks carrying illegal goods can then pass. Bolivian officials said such incidents were repeated on the country’s southern border.
Vargas stated that “Argentine subjects” who acted with Bolivians in these events were identified and that many of these cases “could not be resolved” in the judicial authorities.
Smuggling is one of the main problems affecting the Bolivian economy and worries official companies due to the damage it causes to local industry.