Guayaramerin, a town of about 40,000 people that depends on cross‑border trade, has been infiltrated by Brazil’s two most powerful crime groups, the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and the Comando Vermelho (CV).

In recent weeks a dozen murders on the Bolivian side of the border have been linked to these groups, both of which the United States classifies as terrorist organizations; one victim was shot more than 80 times in what appeared to be a gang‑settling.

Between January and September 2025 Bolivia recorded 774 homicides – a 138 % rise compared with the same period in 2024 – and residents report a surge in armed robberies, kidnappings and other crimes.

For years a tacit “mafia peace” kept the border relatively calm, as authorities largely avoided confronting traffickers; that informal agreement has now broken down, allowing Brazilian cartels to expand their reach.

President Rodrigo Paz, who took office in November 2025, has pledged to send more police to the border, improve intelligence sharing with Brazil, and has already announced the capture of 17 international crime bosses, including top PCC commander Gerson Palermo.

During a recent visit Paz also unveiled a bridge project across the Mamoré River, part of a road corridor to the Pacific. While the bridge could boost legitimate trade, locals fear it will also make it easier for gang members and robbers to move across the border, prompting the police chief to warn that violence is likely to increase unless more personnel are deployed.