Bolivia arrests former judge Aldo Quezada for alleged drug trafficking

Aldo Quezada, a former senior judge in Bolivia, was taken into custody on Wednesday at his home in Santa Cruz on suspicion of drug trafficking and criminal association, prosecutors said. The arrest follows his resignation last month as chief justice of the Santa Cruz departmental court after the United States placed him on a visa‑restriction list for alleged cartel links.

The move is part of a broader U.S.‑backed effort to clamp down on officials in Latin America suspected of drug‑related crimes. The United States has already cancelled visas for officials in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru under the same policy. President Rodrigo Paz, who took office on 8 November 2025, has pledged closer ties to Washington and signed Bolivia up to the “Shield of the Americas,” a security pact championed by the Trump administration.

Quezada is not the only Bolivian official under investigation. Since September, several senior judicial figures have been arrested, including former Attorney General Roger Mariaca, who was detained on 30 September on charges of money laundering and drug trafficking. Police reported finding bundles of cash hidden in Mariaca’s residence. In September, the Trump administration announced visa restrictions on twelve Bolivian nationals and their families, a step that has since expanded to include more officials suspected of cartel connections.

Legal proceedings against Quezada are expected to begin soon, and prosecutors say the case will test Bolivia’s new anti‑corruption drive. Observers note that the arrests could deepen Bolivia’s reliance on U.S. security assistance, while critics warn they may undermine judicial independence. The outcome will likely shape how the Paz government balances domestic reform with its growing partnership with Washington.