Bolivia’s Top Cop Caged: 25 Years

⏱ 2 min read

Former director of Bolivia’s anti-drug force, Maximiliano Davila Perez, 50, learned his fate today in a New York federal courtroom: 25 years in prison. Perez wasn’t busting cartels – he was running product, federal prosecutors proved to a jury. Extradited from Bolivia last December, Perez used his power to grease the wheels for cocaine heading to U.S. streets, and allegedly traded favors for firearms that fueled criminal activity. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote.

Court documents paint a grim picture of Perez’s betrayal. As head of the Fuerza Especial de Lucha Contra el Narcotráfico (FELCN), he was supposed to be the shield against the drug trade. Instead, he was the gatekeeper. He didn’t just turn a blind eye; he actively protected traffickers, ensuring their shipments made it north.

“This wasn’t just about drugs,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton bluntly stated. “Perez abused his power to flood New York with cocaine.” DEA Administrator Terrance Cole was equally direct: “He turned his office into a criminal enterprise… enabling the flow of drugs into the United States.” The DEA’s Special Operations Division spent months building the case, exposing a network of corruption reaching into the highest levels of Bolivian law enforcement.

The conviction serves as a stark reminder that the war on drugs isn’t fought solely on borders and in raids. It’s also a battle against those within the system who are willing to sell their souls – and their authority – for a profit. Perez’s downfall sends a message, officials claim: no one is untouchable.