Bolivia has seized 9.2 tons of coca leaves from Peru, the interior ministry said on Monday.
During a search of a road in the Andes, the police found a total of 795 packages or bales in a truck, said Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo, stressing that it was one of the largest seizures of its kind.
The operation took place in the middle of last week but was not officially announced until Monday.
Minister Del Castillo claimed that these sheets were intended for drug trafficking and their illegal sale on Bolivian territory.
Bolivia has repeatedly stated that it serves as a bridge for Peruvian cocaine to Brazil and other countries, but such a large quantity of coca leaves seized in Peru is unusual.
According to the Peru National Commission for Development and Drug-Free Living, coca cultivation in Peru reached 80,381 hectares in 2021 and 10% is used for legal purposes such as chewing and infusions.
According to the United Nations, Peru is one of the most important producing countries for coca and cocaine, along with Colombia and Bolivia.