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Leaked Documents Accuse Evo Morales of Leading a Child Trafficking Network: A Scandal Shaking Bolivia

The case began to unravel when a young woman from Tarija, identified by the initials ESNV, accused Morales of rape and sexual abuse, claiming the incidents occurred when she was still a minor. According to the investigation, she became pregnant at the age of 15, with Morales allegedly being the father. This claim is backed by documents from the Prosecutor’s Office, including the birth certificate of the victim’s child, which lists Morales as the father.

However, this statutory rape allegation is not the only case in which Morales is implicated. The investigation suggests he led a network of child trafficking, allegedly consolidated through the “Presidential Youth Guard,” an entity comprised of teenagers, predominantly between the ages of 14 and 15, who were recruited to serve Morales. Cindy, the young woman who filed the complaint, was a member of this group.

A key element of the investigation is the birth certificate of the victim’s daughter, issued in 2018 but showing a birthdate from 2016, when the mother was just 15 years old. The leaked document confirms what had been rumored for years: a secret relationship between Morales and a teenager during his presidency.

Although the relationship was kept hidden, in 2020, international media began investigating allegations of a trafficking network tied to Morales. According to testimonies, parents of teenagers recruited into the presidential guard were allegedly compensated financially in exchange for handing their daughters over to the former president.

On September 26, 2024, the Tarija Prosecutor’s Office issued an arrest warrant for Morales on charges of human trafficking, smuggling, and statutory rape. However, within hours, the prosecutor leading the case was abruptly dismissed, raising concerns of a high-level cover-up operation aimed at protecting the ex-president. The prosecutor sustains this was politically motivated.

The case is now steeped in suspicions of corruption and political interference. The prosecutor’s dismissal has been interpreted as an attempt by Bolivia’s government to bury the investigation. Despite multiple victims coming forward and tangible evidence, progress has been slow, with state-controlled media downplaying the allegations.

Morales, using his considerable influence, has allegedly manipulated the judicial system to stifle any efforts to investigate him. The child trafficking network is believed to have thrived under the protection of this power structure, with teenagers from impoverished rural areas being recruited and promised scholarships or financial rewards for their families in exchange for their participation in the presidential guard.

Bolivian Minister of Government, Eduardo Del Castillo, revealed that Cindy’s case may be just the beginning. According to investigators, more women are stepping forward, alleging abuse by Morales and his inner circle during their teenage years, with many victims being under the age of 14.

The allegations against Morales add to a broader narrative of corruption, abuse of power, and manipulation of Bolivia’s judicial system. As more victims gain the courage to speak out, additional revelations could surface, further implicating Morales and intensifying his legal troubles.

This case underscores the fragility of judicial systems in countries where political power is used to protect pigs at the top of the government. Despite the evidence presented, many of us wonder whether justice will really prevail or whether, as has happened in the past, the case will be buried under a cloak of impunity.

Original by Joana Campos.

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