(18 Apr 1997) Spanish/Nat

The biggest Bolivian drug lord ever, Roberto Suarez Gomez, is to be released from prison next week.

Suarez Gomez has only served half of his 15-year sentence for drug trafficking, but will be freed on grounds of good behaviour, ill health and age.

Known as "The Cocaine King," he was said to have offered to pay Bolivia's foreign debt in 1983 in return for being allowed to trade cocaine freely.

This is Roberto Suarez Gomez, better known in Bolivia as "The Cocaine King".

He was paraded in front of the press after his arrest in July 1988, but was not allowed to answer any questions.

The reason for keeping him silent was that many leaders in President Victor Paz's government allegedly had close relations with him.

It was even said that he financed part of Paz's Revolutionary Nationalist Party (M-N-R) campaign in 1985.

The information minister at the time, Herman Antelo, used Suarez's arrest to improve Bolivia's international image as being tough on drug-related crimes.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish)
"I want to repeat once more that Mr Suarez's arrest is not an accident or a coincidence, but part of a political decision, part of a drug fighting programme."
SUPER CAPTION: Herman Antelo, Former information minister

Suarez's arrest followed a police raid in his hacienda "El Mosquito" where more than a ton-and-a-half of cocaine was found.

He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug trafficking.

Suarez Gomez was rumoured to have offered to pay Bolivia's four-thousand (m) million dollar foreign debt in 1983 during President Herman Siles Zuazo's rule.

In return, he would've been allowed to freely carry on his drug deals.

Suarez has always denied any involvement with drug trafficking.

Speaking from San Pedro prison in La Paz in 1989, Suarez even told journalists how he thought the government should tackle drug problems in the country.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish)
"It is the responsibility of our government to set up immediately an action plan so that drug fighting is focused on exportation and on what is more harmful in our society, that is, internal narcotrafficking. Because of repression, drug prices fall and it becomes available to children, young people and working class, which is the one that is being harmed in this country."
SUPER CAPTION: Roberto Suarez Gomez, convicted drug trafficker

After serving half of his sentence in three different jails, Suarez will be released on bail next week.

Suarez, now 64, has suffered two heart attacks while in prison.

Suarez Gomez, the biggest drug baron Bolivia has ever known, is being released on bail so he will have to continue his good behaviour if he wants to remain free.

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