Mario Cronembold was linked with 'Tuta,' the leader of the criminal organization PCC.

The capture of the Brazilian criminal Marcos Roberto de Almeida, alias "Tuta," has unleashed a political storm ahead of the elections. The former mayor of Warnes and former campaign manager of Andrónico Rodríguez, Mario Cronenbold, was summoned by the Prosecutor's Office for alleged links to drug trafficking.

The investigation focuses on the contacts the PCC leader may have had during his stay in Santa Cruz. Authorities conducted raids and seized devices that could reveal new connections. The presence of "Tuta" in Bolivia puts several actors under suspicion.

The FELCC and the Brazilian Federal Police arrested "Tuta" on May 16 when he was attempting to renew his ID with a false identity. The SEGIP system detected irregularities when registering his fingerprints.

An automatic alert allowed the identification of the real person behind the pseudonym Maycon Gonçalves da Silva. Two days later, the drug trafficker was handed over to Brazilian authorities at the border. His apprehension created a domino effect in national politics.

Shortly after, it was confirmed that a major of the Bolivian Police, Gabriel J.S.H., had escorted "Tuta" to the SEGIP offices. Security cameras were key in identifying the officer as one of his bodyguards.

He was arrested for the misuse of public goods and services and for usurpation of functions. The Prosecutor's Office also initiated an internal process against the officer. The images could reveal more involved in the protection network of the drug trafficker.

Andrónico Rodríguez distanced himself from Cronenbold

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Following Cronenbold's summons, Alianza Popular decided on his removal from the campaign leadership. The announcement was made on Saturday through a statement on social media.

Andrónico Rodríguez assured that the measure is temporary and seeks to avoid political contamination amid the investigations. He added that it is a "preventive distancing," without passing judgment on his former collaborator. The decision was ratified by Félix Patzi, an ally of Rodríguez and leader of the Movimiento Tercer Sistema.

The Prosecutor's Office confirmed that Cronenbold was summoned for the "Tuta" case, but did not provide further details. Prosecutor Gómer Padilla indicated that the investigation is ongoing and has been expanded to other individuals.

Two women were also summoned after the raid on the house where the drug trafficker lived. It is presumed that this residence was used as a PCC operations center. The police seized documents and recordings from the location's security cameras.

The severity of the case increased after it was revealed that "Tuta" had been living in Bolivia since 2020. He was a fugitive from Brazilian justice, which had convicted him of money laundering and criminal organization offenses.

From Bolivian territory, he continued to operate as the PCC leader. He directed drug trafficking networks, arms trafficking, and remittance robberies. He even faced internal disputes within the organization that led him to order murders.

Rodríguez also referred to the removal of Israel Quino, his legal advisor. He said that both Quino and Cronenbold were removed to facilitate the clarification of the facts.

Quino was dismissed due to allegations of violence and sexual abuse against him. According to Rodríguez, both cases must be solved in the justice system without political interference. He reiterated that the decisions were made to protect the alliance's image.

The president of the senate also denounced a "legal battle" against his candidacy. He claimed that there is a power corporation seeking to halt his progress toward the presidential elections. He argued that the recent attacks aim to discredit his image before public opinion.

He insisted that they will remain firm and will not yield to external pressures. He urged his bases to stay vigilant and alert.

Criminal links affected Andrónico's campaign

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Félix Patzi tried to minimize the impact of the case. He said that Cronenbold's removal is due to disagreements in the campaign strategy. According to Patzi, there was a "lack of comprehensive vision" and little focus on the western part of the country.

He assured that he was unaware of the links with the PCC leader. For Patzi, the campaign continues and a new national leader will soon be appointed. But the scandal has already marked the electoral agenda.

"Tuta's" background reveals that he was not a minor criminal. He was named PCC leader by Marcola, the historic head of the Brazilian criminal group. He is considered the financial mastermind of the organization.

He managed international drug trafficking and money laundering operations from Bolivia. He was also responsible for ordering murders within the PCC. His capture was a priority for Brazil and Paraguay.

Despite his high profile, the Bolivian government denied his presence in 2022. At that time, reports from Brazil warned that "Tuta" was in Bolivia. It was even reported that he had been kidnapped by his own organization due to internal disputes.

The then Minister of Government, Eduardo del Castillo, denied the information. He assured that there was no foreigner kidnapped in the country.

Investigations in Bolivia could escalate further. With the raid on his residence, authorities hope to identify his local contacts. The involvement of other officials or political figures is not ruled out.

More involved?

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The links between organized crime and certain sectors of power are back in debate. The extradition of "Tuta" was just the beginning of a broader process.

The PCC has confirmed presence in Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, and Colombia. Its history of violence and infiltration concerns security agencies. The capture of its leader exposed flaws in migration and identification controls.

It also raised questions about the protection he received. The arrest of the police major is just a first step.

The scandal directly impacts the candidacy of cocalero Andrónico Rodríguez. Although he distances himself, the relationship of his campaign manager with a drug trafficking case raises doubts.

The opposition is already demanding a thorough investigation. The presence of the PCC in Bolivia has overflowed the police sphere and reached politics.