LatinNews Daily - 15 March 2018

Bolivia: At least seven prisoners have been reported dead following clashes in which some 2,500 police officers were deployed to recover control of Bolivia’s largest jail, Palmasola, located in Santa Cruz department. According to official reports, at least six security officials and 18 prisoners were injured at the prison, which despite its capacity for 800 prisoners currently houses 5,716 on official reports. Interim interior minister, Javier Zavaleta, said that the intervention was necessary due to “illegal situations” having been detected within the prison such as the trafficking of illegal substances, reports of fire-arms, and internal control exercised by some prisoners over others. A group of prisoners had also staged protests last month over complaints regarding new rules that prohibit children from entering the prison. During the police intervention, the general commander of the police, General Faustino Alfonso Mendoza Arze, reported that eight revolvers had been seized, as well as a .22 long rifle, four grenades, 188 cell phones, 620g of cocaine, 7.2kg of marijuana, and B56,500 (US$8,147) and US$720 in cash.

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