William Acosta, CEO of Equalizer Investigations for Poder & Dinero and FinGurú
Introduction
Bolivia is going through one of the most decisive moments in its recent history. In August 2025, Rodrigo Paz Pereira was elected as the thirty-seventh constitutional president of the country, ending more than two decades of dominance by the Movimiento al Socialismo (El País 2025). His arrival at the Palacio Quemado carries weight that goes beyond party politics: as the son of former president Jaime Paz Zamora, he represents not only a generational shift but also the hope of citizens seeking to break old patterns and create space for real change.
In the streets of La Paz, Santa Cruz, and Cochabamba, as well as in remote towns of the Altiplano and the Amazon, there is a palpable mix of hope and skepticism. People talk less about ideology and more about survival: jobs, justice, security, and the future of their children. The expectation is clear: that the new government can provide transparency, economic recovery, and a judicial system that truly works. However, no one forgets that old problems — corruption, criminal networks, and institutional weakness — remain firmly present (El País 2025; RTVE 2025).
This change in leadership alone does not guarantee solutions. What it offers, however, is a rare political opening: the possibility of promoting strategic and inclusive reforms. Whether it becomes a true turning point or another missed opportunity will depend on how quickly and decisively the new administration translates words into actions.
A New Political Cycle
The 2025 elections opened a door that few expected to see so soon. For the first time in more than two decades, the Movimiento al Socialismo ceased to be the dominant force. But its political and social weight still persists, constantly reminding the new president that governing Bolivia will require negotiation and consensus, not confrontation (El País 2025).
Bolivians today do not ask for miracles. They want honesty, a government that listens, and justice applied fairly. In a country still marked by deep divisions, this new cycle may finally offer the opportunity to rebuild trust and weave common ground.
Drug Trafficking and Transnational Criminal Networks
The geography of Bolivia has long made it vulnerable to drug trafficking, but in recent years, this vulnerability has grown. The expansion of coca crops and clandestine labs has turned the country into a key corridor for global drug trafficking routes (Organized Crime Index 2021; UNODC 2022).
Powerful criminal groups are behind this trade: Primeiro Comando da Capital and Comando Vermelho from Brazil, the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels from Mexico, as well as mafias from Europe and Asia (Mongabay 2022). And it doesn't end with cocaine. Wildlife trafficking has also expanded, with jaguar fangs, skins, and other species smuggled abroad.
These networks do not just trade in smuggling: they infiltrate institutions, corrupt officials, and undermine the very sovereignty of the state.
Corruption in Security Institutions
Few things erode a nation more than police and military forces that do not inspire trust. At the beginning of 2025, stories emerged about police extorting citizens, collaborating with mafias, and covering up crimes. Dozens of officers were expelled, but these measures seemed more like patches than structural solutions (Noticias Fides 2025; Prensa Latina 2025; Opinión 2025).
For ordinary Bolivians, this corruption is not theoretical — it is their daily life. It means wondering whether the uniformed officer is there to protect them or to exploit them. Restoring trust will require more than dismissals; it will demand deep institutional reform, something no government has yet achieved.
Presidential Corruption
Corruption at the pinnacle of power has left deep scars on Bolivia's political memory. During Evo Morales's presidency (2006–2019), multi-million dollar contracts were funneled to companies linked to his inner circle, including CAMC Engineering, associated with his then-partner Gabriela Zapata. The scandal fueled allegations of influence peddling and illicit enrichment, though Morales never faced a firm conviction (El País 2018).
The interim presidency of Jeanine Áñez (2019–2020) was not spared either. In May 2020, amid the pandemic, her government purchased 170 ventilators at inflated prices. The scandal led to high-profile arrests, including Health Minister Marcelo Navajas (Opinión 2020; Prensa Latina 2020).
Previous administrations also bore stains. Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada and Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé faced accusations of privatization and corruption in the management of state assets. Social programs like Evo Cumple were criticized for lack of oversight and arbitrary spending (El País 2018; Opinión 2020).
This chain of scandals has fueled the cynicism of citizens, who wonder if every president is doomed to betray public trust. For Rodrigo Paz Pereira, breaking that cycle could define his entire leadership.
Illegal Mining and Environmental Crisis
Gold and mercury, central to Bolivia's illegal mining economy, have become silent destroyers of the country's environment. Smuggling routes channel mercury to clandestine camps that poison rivers, devastate forests, and endanger indigenous communities that depend on these ecosystems (Actualidad Ambiental 2025; Rumbo Minero 2025).
The damage is not only ecological but also social. Mining territories are often left under the control of criminal groups or informal operators. The result is exploitation, absence of law, and local communities living in fear. What should be a source of national wealth often strengthens criminal networks, leaving poisoned land and destroyed lives in its wake.
Influence of the Venezuelan Regime and Foreign Networks
Not all threats to Bolivia are internal. The Venezuelan regime, through groups like the Cartel de los Soles and Tren de Aragua, has consolidated influence within the country, using it as a strategic enclave in regional criminal operations (Small Wars Journal 2025; CASLA Institute 2025). Backed by political connections and alliances of impunity, these groups operate freely, undermining Bolivian sovereignty and complicating state responses. This challenge is transnational. Facing it alone is impossible; it requires regional cooperation and joint responses. Isolation is not an option.
Conclusion
Bolivia now faces a decisive test. The ballots may have opened the door to change, but history makes one truth clear: elections alone cannot eradicate corruption or dismantle entrenched powers. For President Rodrigo Paz Pereira, the challenge is to demonstrate that a different leadership — one based on transparency, accountability, and real inclusion — can succeed where others have failed.
The threats are immense: criminal networks expanding their reach, environmental collapse, and institutions weakened by decades of abuse. However, so too is the opportunity. Bolivia has the people, resources, and determination to build a more just and sustainable society. Success will require not only political will from above but also active citizen participation — citizens demanding accountability and refusing to accept more of the same.
This crossroads is more than political; it is about redefining the relationship between the Bolivian people and the State. It is about whether the country can break its cycle of crisis and carve out a future where democracy delivers more than slogans — where it delivers dignity, security, and hope. The path will not be easy or immediate, but if the momentum of August 2025 turns into real commitment, this era could be remembered not for inherited fragility but for the renewal it managed to achieve.
References
Actualidad Ambiental. (2025, July 30). Tons of mercury from Mexico fuel illegal mining in Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru. https://www.actualidadambiental.pe/toneladas-de-mercurio-de-mexico-alimentan-a-la-mineria-ilegal-en-bolivia-colombia-y-peru/
CASLA Institute. (2025, February 20). Annual report 2024-2025 PDF.
https://www.oas.org/fpdb/press/INFORME-ANUAL-DEL-INSTITUTO-CASLA-2024-2025-2.pdf
El País. (2018, May 8). The scandal that led to the downfall of Evo Morales's partner. https://elpais.com/internacional/2018/05/08/actualidad/1525798592_378107.html
El País. (2025, August 18). Bolivia turns to the right. https://elpais.com/america/opinion/2025-08-18/bolivia-gira-a-la-derecha.html
Euronews. (2025, August 18). Bolivia: Center-right candidates win in the first round. https://es.euronews.com/2025/08/18/bolivia-gira-a-la-derecha-el-candidato-centrista-y-el-expresidente-quiroga-se-enfrentaran-
LA Times. (2025, July 24). Peru seizes record 4 tons of mercury in fight against illegal gold mining. https://www.latimes.com/espanol/deportes/articulo/2025-07-24/peru-incauta-un-record-de-4-toneladas-de-mercurio-en-lucha-contra-la-mineria-ilegal-de-oro
Mongabay. (2022, August 17). Bolivia: investigation reveals that three international criminal groups handle jaguar trafficking. https://es.mongabay.com/2021/01/trafico-de-jaguar-en-bolivia-tres-bandas-internacionales-chinas/
Noticias Fides. (2025, January 31). In January, the police were involved in at least six corruption scandals. https://noticiasfides.com/nacional/seguridad/en-enero-la-policia-se-vio-envuelta-en-al-menos-seis-escandalos-de-corrupcion
Opinión. (2020, May 21). Jeanine Áñez and the ventilators case: this was the scandal. https://www.opinion.com.bo/articulo/pais/jeanine-anez-y-el-caso-respiradores-asi-fue-el-escandalo/20200521004515774224.html
Opinión. (2025, March 13). A total of 23 police officers have been dismissed so far in 2025. https://www.opinion.com.bo/articulo/policial/total-23-policias-fueron-dados-baja-que-va-2025/20250313175126968485.html
Organized Crime Index. (2021). Bolivia. https://ocindex.net/assets/downloads/2021/spanish/ocindex_profile_bolivia_2021.pdf
Prensa Latina. (2020, May 21). Minister detained in Bolivia for ventilators scandal. https://www.prensa-latina.cu/2020/05/21/detienen-a-ministro-boliviano-por-escandalo-de-respiradores/
Prensa Latina. (2025, May 26). Bolivia pending investigation into corrupt police officer. https://www.prensa-latina.cu/2025/05/26/bolivia-pendiente-de-investigacion-sobre-policia-corrupto/
Rumbo Minero. (2025, June 5). The smuggling of mercury: the routes. https://www.rumbominero.com/peru/noticias/mineria/el-contrabando-del-mercurio-la-ruta-del-principal-insumo-de-la-mineria-ilegal-para-extraer-oro/
RTVE. (2025, August 17). Bolivia opens the door to...to the right after 20 years of Evo Morales. https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20250817/bolivia-abre-puerta-derecha-tras-20-anos-evo-morales/16698506.shtml
Small Wars Journal. (2025, May 29). Perspective – Venezuela's Gray War: A Criminal Army...? https://smallwarsjournal.com/2025/05/29/perspectiva-la-guerra-gris-de-venezuela-un-ejercito-criminal-una-ola-migrante-y-la-invasion-de-ee-uu/
UNODC. (2022). Coca Crop Monitoring Report in the Plurinational State of Bolivia. https://www.unodc.org/unodc/es/crop-monitoring/index.html
About the Author
William L. Acosta graduated from PWU and Alliance University. He is a retired officer of the New York Police Department and the founder and CEO of Equalizer Private Investigations & Security Services Inc., a licensed agency in New York and Florida, with international projection. Since 1999, he has led investigations in narcotics, homicides, and missing persons cases, in addition to participating in criminal defense at both state and federal levels. Specializing in international and multijurisdictional cases, he has coordinated operations in North America, Europe, and Latin America.
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