Bolivian authorities have exposed a major cocaine operation led by Colombian nationals. The laboratory was operated deep in Amazon jungles of Bolivia’s eastern lowlands. Here are more details on this story.<br /><br />Authorities busted a massive cocaine laboratory deep in Bolivia's Amazon jungle that is tipped to be run by Columbian nationals. <br /><br />The lab was set up some 43 miles (70 kilometers) outside of the city of Concepcion. Anti-drug forces approached the remote location by helicopter and boat, but found it was virtually unmanned when they arrived. <br /><br />Police believe an alert system gave the Colombians time to escape, leaving the police with just one arrest. <br /><br />Speaking from La Paz, Felipe Caceres, the vice minister of social development, said there were up to 20 Colombians working at the lab. <br /><br />[Felipe Caceres, Social Development Vice-Minister]: (Male, Spanish)<br />"We know there were between 15 and 20 Colombians, and only one was arrested. We urgently need a law that lets us intercept telephone calls."<br /><br />Authorities estimate the lab may have employed up to 30 people, with the capacity to produce 250 kilograms of cocaine a day - a huge output according to one anti-drug official. <br /><br />[Coronel Medina, Anti-drug Agent]: (Male, Spanish)<br />"I would say it was a super-mega factory that turned cocaine paste into cocaine."<br /><br />Anti-drug agents rounded up and catalogued chemicals and ammunition found at the site where they also found guns, walkie-talkies and three generators.
