Bolivia arrests head of government's coca agency
Bolivia arrests head of government's coca agency
Published Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 12:01 am / Updated at 7:41 pm
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) - Bolivian authorities have arrested the head of the government agency that commercializes coca, alleging he diverted to relatives 35,000 tons of leaves that were supposed to have been destroyed.
Prosecutors say Luis Cutipa is accused of influence peddling, negligence and other crimes.
His job is to regulate the transport and sale of legal coca and seize leaves that exceed legally permitted production quotas. It is not clear what happened to coca leaf that was allegedly diverted. Coca is the basis of cocaine.
A political ally of President Evo Morales, Cutipa is also accused of doubling the price of licenses for coca vendors.
He declared his innocence after his arrest Tuesday.
http://www.omaha.com/article/20131009/AP15/310099997