Bolivian law enforcement detained Aldo Quezada, a former chief justice of the Santa Cruz departmental court, at his residence in eastern Bolivia on Wednesday. The arrest followed allegations of drug trafficking and criminal association, according to prosecutor Marcelo Inchausti. Quezada had stepped down from his judicial position last month after being added to a United States visa restrictions list due to suspected involvement in narcotics-related activities.
The detention represents part of a broader regional enforcement initiative supported by the United States. Washington has similarly implemented visa restrictions on officials in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru under the same enforcement policy targeting suspected links to drug trafficking operations.
Quezada joins other high-ranking Bolivian judicial figures arrested since September on suspicion of cartel connections. Former Attorney General Roger Mariaca was taken into custody on September 30 and faces allegations of money laundering and drug trafficking. Law enforcement recovered substantial quantities of currency at Mariaca’s residence during the operation.
The Trump administration designated visa restrictions targeting twelve Bolivian nationals and their family members in September. Bolivia’s government, led by President Rodrigo Paz since November 8, 2025, has prioritized strengthening relations with the United States. The administration has committed the nation to Trump’s “Shield of the Americas,” a security partnership framework established to address regional security challenges.
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