Son of former communist president Luis Arce arrested for money laundering in Bolivia

Yesterday, the Bolivian Police arrested Marcelo Arce, the eldest son of former president Luis Arce, after an attempt to escape in the city of Santa Cruz. The operation was carried out as part of an investigation for money laundering and economic damage to the State. During the proceedings, the agents seized his vehicle and a sum close to 22,000 dollars in

foreign currency.

The defendant, 33, is under investigation together with his two younger brothers and his father for the crimes of illicit enrichment, breach of duties and economic harm to the State. Luis Arce, former Minister of Economy during the government of Evo Morales, remains in detention in La Paz, accused of corruption in the exercise of his public functions

.

According to official sources, the arrest of the former official occurred in November 2025, after his tenure in the government ended. The legal cases against him include embezzlement of public funds and uneconomic behavior that would have started during his administration that began in 2019. In addition, possible links with the so-called “indigenous fund” case, one of the most important corruption scandals in the country in recent years, are being investigated

.

The current Minister of Government, Marco Antonio Oviedo, maintained that the actions of the security forces were carried out “in strict compliance with current legal and jurisdictional procedures.” In addition, he stressed that the arrest does not respond to political motivations, but rather to the need to ensure that all citizens respond to justice on

equal terms.

For his part, Marcelo Arce, who has a history of domestic violence, is being held in a unit of the anti-corruption force along with four others involved in similar causes. The detainees are under the supervision of prosecutor Néstor Torres and will be transferred in the next few hours to the Palmasola prison in Santa Cruz,

as confirmed by the authorities.

If found guilty of the crimes he is accused of, Arce could face a minimum sentence of up to ten years in prison, in addition to significant economic sanctions. The case is still under investigation and new arrests have not been ruled out as part of the

case.