ALLEGED drug trafficker Sebastian Marset Cabrera, the target of a major manhunt in Bolivia, is being protected by a “paramilitary group” made up of mostly Brazilians, authorities said yesterday.

“We are certain that there is a paramilitary group with weapons of war, in charge of ... protection,” Bolivian Interior Vice-Minister Jhonny Aguilera told state TV.

Authorities pointed to the cache of weapons found in houses used by Marset Cabrera in the city of Santa Cruz as evidence.

Police launched a massive operation to capture the alleged cocaine trafficker over the weekend, during which they arrested a dozen people and picked up 17 rifles, two pistols, more than 1,800 bullets and four bulletproof vests.

Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo indicated separately yesterday that Marset Cabrera “had a high-end security team of Brazilian citizens who have long weapons and short weapons”.

“They are weapons of war that can destroy bulletproof vests, armoured equipment,” he said.

Marset Cabrera is wanted on drug charges in Uruguay, his native country, as well as Paraguay, Brazil and the United States.

Despite the weekend raids, which mobilised some 2,250 security agents, his whereabouts remain unknown. – AFP, August 3, 2023.