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An arsenal of AK 47 assault rifles, which came from Turkey, was seized by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Police during an operation at the Viru Viru International Airport, located in Santa Cruz. The Bolivian Government suspects that these weapons were intended to cause social unrest in the country.
The discovery was made on Saturday, when authorities carried out searches in the cargo area of the airport terminal. There, they found the weapons packed and ready to be sent to another destination within the country.
Statements by the Minister of Government
The Minister of Government, Eduardo Del Castillo, reported that several searches have been carried out at the Viru Viru International Airport, Santa Cruz, after the discovery of a large quantity of lethal and war weapons. According to his statements, this shipment arrived from Turkey, passed through Colombia and finally arrived in Santa Cruz.
Del Castillo detailed that “100 modern assault rifles (Variant and characteristics of the AK 47 assault rifle), Caliber 7.62 × 39 mm, 80 semi-automatic and repeating shotguns, caliber 12, 6 AKDAS brand carbines, caliber 9 mm and 6 AKDAS brand assault rifles, model SEMX 55K, Caliber 5.56 mm (characteristics of the Colt brand assault rifle, model M4)” were seized.
Illicit purposes of weapons
Del Castillo stressed that neither the Ministry of Government nor the Ministry of Defense purchased or authorized the entry of these weapons into the country. It is suspected that the weapons were not going to be used for legal purposes, but rather “were surely destined for social upheaval or, on the contrary, for illegal purposes.”
Images of the operation
Photographs to which Unitel had access show that the weapons were packed and ready to be sent to another destination in Bolivia. In the images, prosecutor Delmy Guzmán can also be seen leading the operation.
Ongoing investigations
So far, no arrests have been reported as investigations are being conducted in a highly confidential manner.
