Full Breakdown
Bolivian Attorney General Roger Mariaca Arrested After U.S. Visa Revocation
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Arrest of Roger Mariaca and Associated Officials
On October 1, 2026, Bolivian police detained Attorney General Roger Mariaca in Santa Cruz, two days after the United States revoked his visa on accusations of facilitating drug trafficking. The operation also included the arrest of Santa Cruz prosecutor Alberto Zeballos, who had previously been sanctioned by Washington. Police raided the prosecutor’s offices in Sucre, broadcasting the action on the institution’s social-media channels. The Ministry of Government confirmed the arrests through an unnamed source.
Background: U.S. Anti-Corruption Campaign in the Region
The arrests occurred amid a broader U.S. State Department effort that this week identified nearly 20 individuals from Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador for alleged corruption, drug-trafficking links, or conspiracies against their governments. In addition to revoking Mariaca’s visa, Washington withdrew visas from 12 other Bolivian officials and declared nine additional Bolivian nationals ineligible for future visas. Earlier in the year, the United States captured high-profile narco-trafficker Sebastián Marset in Bolivia and transferred him to U.S. authorities for prosecution.
Official Statements and Responses
The U.S. State Department asserted that Mariaca accepted bribes to facilitate drug trafficking and to help violent criminals evade justice. In a press statement, Mariaca rejected the allegations, describing the U.S. action as “interference” and “political pressure” aimed at undermining his investigations. Claudia Pardo, head of communications for the Attorney General’s office, denounced the police operation as an illegal intervention before the Bolivian public.
Key Figures and Ongoing Legal Context
- Roger Mariaca – Attorney General of Bolivia, accused of receiving bribes tied to drug trafficking.
- Alberto Zeballos – Santa Cruz prosecutor, also sanctioned by the United States and arrested alongside Mariaca.
- Claudia Pardo – Head of communications for the Attorney General’s office, publicly condemned the arrests.
The detained officials have not responded to requests for comment, and the legal outcomes of the arrests remain pending. The episode highlights heightened tension between Bolivia’s judicial authorities and U.S. anti-narcotics initiatives in the region.
