Bolivia extradites former drug chief to US on drug trafficking fees

Bolivia has extradited its former anti-drug director to the USA, the place he faces drug trafficking fees.

Maximiliano Dávila, also referred to as “Macho”, is accused of facilitating cocaine trafficking to the USA whereas he headed Bolivia’s counternarcotics company.

His extradition, which came about on Thursday, was authorised on the finish of November by the Supreme Court docket of Bolivia. He denies any wrongdoing.

Dávila had been imprisoned in Bolivia on corruption fees since February 2022.

That very same month, U.S. authorities unsealed an indictment charging the 60-year-old with cocaine trafficking and a associated weapons cost.

The U.S. State Division claims that Dávila was concerned in narcotics trafficking earlier than and through his tenure as director of the Bolivian Particular Forces to Fight Drug Trafficking (FELCN).

It claims that Dávila exploited his place to “safeguard planes used to move cocaine to 3rd nations, for additional distribution in the USA.”

If convicted, he faces a minimal sentence of 10 years in jail and a most sentence of life in jail, in accordance with U.S. paperwork.

The State Division has provided a reward of as much as $5 million (£4 million) in 2022 for info that might result in his conviction.

Dávila served as director of the FELCN underneath former President Evo Morales, who ruled Bolivia from 2006 to 2019.

Shortly after Dávila’s extradition, Morales criticized the choice and declared that “Bolivia is an American colony once more”, in a publish on his X account.

“The Bolivians are delivered to the North American Empire, in violation of worldwide agreements, with out having been tried beforehand of their nation the place they’re suspected of getting dedicated crimes,” he added.

In 2008, Morales expelled the US ambassador and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from Bolivia for allegedly conspiring towards his authorities.

Morales himself is underneath investigation for alleged rape and human trafficking, which he denies. His supporters just lately staged blockades throughout the nation for weeks to demand an finish to the investigation towards him.

In November, he shared a video of his car being shot atin what he described as an “assassination try” towards him.

The Bolivian authorities has rejected Morales’ claims that he was behind the try on his life.