LA PAZ, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia's Attorney General Roger Mariaca and Santa Cruz's chief prosecutor Alberto Zeballos were detained Wednesday, with authorities providing no immediate explanation.
Police intercepted the two at the Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz after they arrived from the capital Sucre, according to preliminary reports. Official sources later confirmed the detentions to local media.
Authorities had not publicly disclosed whether warrants had been issued, what offenses were under investigation, or who had ordered the detentions.
The operation came two days after the United States announced visa restrictions against Mariaca, Zeballos and other Bolivians. Washington accused Mariaca of corruption linked to drug trafficking, allegations he denied.
Zeballos said he did not know why his visa had been revoked and had sought an official explanation through diplomatic channels.
Earlier Wednesday, the attorney general's office denied a report that Mariaca had met with suspected Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastian Marset before Marset was sent to the United States.
The office called the report false and demanded evidence. It also said prosecutors had not taken part in the March 13 operation to capture Marset in Santa Cruz.
After news of the detentions emerged, staff at the attorney general's office said officers from a special police intelligence unit had entered its headquarters in Sucre. ■
