31 suitcases entered Bolivia on different airline than authorized, investigation reveals

A bombshell investigation has revealed that the 31 suitcases at the center of a major Bolivian scandal were brought into the country by a different airline than the one that received official authorization. The discovery was made by deputy Rolando Pacheco through written requests for information.

The flight, a Gulfstream G-550 with registration N585JC, departed from Burbank, California on November 29, 2025, and landed at Viru Viru International Airport. On board were former deputy Laura Rojas, Italian citizen Gabriel Giuliano Leoni, and two minors. While the entry and exit authorization was granted to Southern Cross Aircraft LLC, the actual flight operated under Proflite LLC, a company not recorded in the National Customs system.

According to a document obtained by digital news outlet Urgente.bo, the Brazilian Federal Police liaison officer Fernando Augusto Battaus alerted Bolivian anti-drug police that the aircraft was carrying suitcases with money suspected to be for drug payment, based on information from US Homeland Security. However, Bolivian authorities did not respond to the alert.

The case became public on January 22 and sparked national controversy. It was later revealed that Rojas used an annulled diplomatic passport to withdraw the 31 suitcases. The president of the Customs office confirmed the operator discrepancy in an official report.

Article and image source: opinion.com.bo