Bolivia links fuel crisis, tainted gas to smuggling ring operating through Chile

Record ID: 2371934

  • Title: Bolivia links fuel crisis, tainted gas to smuggling ring operating through Chile
  • Date: 31st March 2026
  • Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (MARCH 31, 2026) (REUTERS) BOLIVIAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT RODRIGO PAZ ENTERING THE NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOLIVIAN INTERIOR MINISTER, MARCO ANTONIO OVIEDO, SAYING: "What we are seeing here, with hard evidence, with tanker license plates and with people involved in the operation, is what has been entering the country and
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Bolivia Chile Fuel crisis Oil fuel smuggling
  • Location: ALTO HOSPICIO, TARAPACA, CHILE / LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
  • City: ALTO HOSPICIO, TARAPACA, CHILE / LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
  • Country: Bolivia
  • Topics: South America / Central America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA002905531032026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Bolivia's government said on Tuesday (March 31) that 5,000 tanker trucks carrying adulterated fuel entered the country from Chile through a trans-national smuggling network, as authorities showed surveillance footage of illegal storage garages in Alto Hospicio.
    According to Bolivian authorities, the network moved an estimated $150 million worth of tainted fuel between October 2025 and March 2026.
    Interior Minister Marco Antonio Oviedo said the fuel was mixed with used oil and contaminated water, and said investigators had linked the operation to tanker trucks, private garages and distribution points in both Chile and Bolivia. He said the fuel originated from the Chilean ports of Arica, Iquique and Mejillones, although investigations in Mejillones were still ongoing.
    President Rodrigo Paz Pereira said the operation extended across several countries and thanked Chilean institutions for cooperating in the investigation.
    The case emerged as Bolivia faces an energy crisis, with the Andean country depending on imports for more than 80% of its domestic fuel demand.
    (Production: Santiago Limachi, Sergio Limachi, Monica Machicao, Hugo Monnet)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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