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Bolivia Re-Arrests Former Interior Minister Murillo After Prison Term In US

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Arturo Murillo, Bolivia’s former Interior Minister, was taken into custody on Thursday immediately after landing in Santa Cruz, following his deportation from the United States where he had served time for money laundering.

Murillo, 61, had been sentenced in January 2023 to nearly six years in a US prison after admitting to laundering bribes connected to a $5.7 million tear gas procurement contract.

Prosecutors said the supplier inflated the price by almost $2.3 million. Though he was granted early release, a US immigration judge ruled last month that he be deported.

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Murillo held office under the interim leadership of Jeanine Áñez, who assumed power in 2019 after Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, stepped down amid protests and electoral disputes.

Upon his return, Bolivian authorities wasted no time. Dozens of police officers intercepted and handcuffed him at the Santa Cruz airport.

Government minister Roberto Ríos had announced the night before that officers were under instruction to enforce two outstanding arrest warrants. “The law will take its course,” Ríos declared.

Legal cases against Murillo have mounted over the years. In October 2024, he was handed an eight-year prison sentence in absentia for his role in the overpriced tear gas purchase, the same scandal that led to his US conviction.

In February 2025, he received an additional sentence of more than five years in connection with riot gear imports from Ecuador.

The contracts in question date back to 2019, when Bolivia was experiencing widespread unrest and security forces were urgently acquiring crowd-control equipment.

Murillo’s troubles didn’t end with jail time. In April 2024, a US court ordered him to pay Bolivia $6.2 million in compensation tied to the corruption scheme.

His arrest is the latest development in a series of prosecutions against former Áñez officials, underscoring Bolivia’s effort to hold members of the post-Morales government accountable.

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DOJ Confirms Federal Criminal Investigation After Agents Raid Ilhan Omar’s Home

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Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.

Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.

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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.

A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”

The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”

 

 

Details later……….

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Bangkok Underwater: Nearly 4,900 Evacuated as Floods Hit Thailand Capital

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Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.

The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.

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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.

Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.

Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.

Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.

For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.

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‘They Are Dying’ — Trump Explains Why He Rejected Iran’s Hormuz Proposal

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US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.

“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.

SEE ALSO: How the Strait of Hormuz Attack Could Trigger a Fresh Global Oil Shock

According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.

“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.

“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”

Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”

“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.

“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”

The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.

Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.

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