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Bolivia’s Decision to Oust DEA Will Mean Greater Drug Trafficking Risk, Say Analysts

By Juan Baptista and Brian Orsak

Bolivia's decision to oust the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration from the country will likely open the way for increase in regional drug trafficking and organized crime, say analysts. Bolivian president Evo Morales suspended the operations of the U.S. antidrug agency on November 1, accusing the organization of spying and surreptitiously financing criminal groups, including drug traffickers. The U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood called the accusations "patently absurd" in a press conference Friday. The decision, which translates to a scaling back of curbs on drug production, will also mean that U.S. law enforcement and financial institutions will more closely...

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