Naranjitos cocaine raid
OVERVIEW On June 25, 2014, an operation led by the Mobile Rural Patrol Unit (UMOPAR) left one civilian dead in Naranjitos, in Villa Tunari in the Chapare providence (Opinión 2014).
Mario Centelles, National Director of the Special Forces to Fight Drug Trafficking (FELCN) reported the death to have occurred during an anti-drug operation (Opinión 2014),(Los Tiempos 2014).
ACCOUNT On June 25, at 9:30am, 7 UMOPAR officers arrived at a store in Naranjitos where they observed Agapito Ríos receiving a package of drugs. When the officers attempted to confront Ríos, he ran into nearby woods where armed men were waiting to prevent the police from pursuing. UMOPAR officers opened fire, hitting Ríos (eju.tv 2014b).
Ríos succumbed to his injuries prior to being transported to the San Fransisco de Asís hospital in Villa Tunari by police (Opinión 2014). At the scene, 2,018 grams of cocaine and a fired revolver with additional bullet cartridges were discovered (Opinión 2014).
Citizen accounts conflict with the UMOPAR officer’s official report. One citizen from Naranjitos claimed she saw Agapito Ríos walking through the area where he was intercepted by UMOPAR officers. She reported hearing a gun shot and then discovered Ríos lying on the ground receiving aid from the officers (Opinión 2014).
DEATHS Agapito Ríos Huanca, a narco-trafficker, 34 years old, from 40 Arroyos (eju.tv 2014a). Killed by a bullet fired by an UMOPAR officer to the left thigh. He bled out on the scene and was later transported to San Francisco de Asís hospital (Opinión 2014).
INVESTIGATION Ríos’s family maintained his innocence following his death. They claimed Ríos was in Naranjitos to meet with a relative to name godfather for his son and did not have a criminal history. It was discovered that Ríos had a criminal record from 2001 when he was arrested at Bulo Bulo for drug trafficking. He was discovered with 63 capsules of cocaine weighing 492 grams and was sentenced to 8 years in El Abra prison (eju.tv 2014b).
In protest to Ríos death, citizens of Naranjitos mobilized establishing road blockades at the main routes connecting the town with the eastern region. Felipe Cáceres, Vice Minister of Social Defense, Carlos Romero, Minister of Government, and Alberto Suarez, Departmental Commander of Police, traveled to Villa Tunari to meet with Feliciano Mamani, the Mayor, and protestors. On June 27, an agreement was reached between the government actors and protestors.In return for protesters lifting the blockade, Minister of Government Carlos Romero ordered the commission of prosecutors in charge of the Ríos case to complete their investigation of his death within 15 days (eju.tv 2014a). Victor Gutierrez, the lawyer defending UMOPAR police claimed that due process and the presumption of innocence was being violated (Los Tiempos 2014).
While the outcome of the investigation and court case is unclear, on June 30 the hearing into Ríos death was suspended due to the absence of a complaining party (Los Tiempos June 31, 2014).