Bolivia’s long-running political and corruption scandals took a dramatic turn on September 4 with the arrest of former Interior Minister Arturo Murillo following his extradition from the United States. Murillo, once a powerful figure in Bolivia’s transitional government after the resignation of Evo Morales in 2019, has now become one of the most high-profile officials to face prosecution in connection with corruption, money laundering, and irregular state contracts. His case underscores the enduring challenges Bolivia faces in combating graft within its political class, as well as the international dimensions of corruption that cross national borders.

Murillo, 61, was escorted by authorities immediately after his arrival in Santa Cruz on September 4. The Bolivian Interior Ministry confirmed his detention, emphasizing that the extradition marks an important step toward ensuring accountability for crimes committed against the Bolivian state.

“The law must reach everyone, no matter how powerful they once were,” Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo stated in a press briefing, adding that Murillo’s case should serve as a warning to officials tempted to misuse public funds.

Murillo had already been serving a six-year prison sentence in the United States for money laundering and receiving bribes, following his conviction in 2023. Yet Bolivia sought his return to face separate charges, particularly over the controversial purchase of tear gas in 2019 during the presidency of Jeanine Áñez, a caretaker leader whose administration was mired in allegations of corruption and political repression.

At the heart of the Bolivian charges is an $8........

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