After the 1980 coup d'état, "La Corporación" received political protection from the Bolivian military dictatorship, effectively making Bolivia a narco-state, and became one of the largest cocaine producers in the world.
[2] They were allied with several Mexican and Colombian drug cartels and had a notable presence in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
The event became known as the "Cocaine Coup" because it was reportedly backed by criminals and drug traffickers, including Suárez and other members of "La Corporación".
According to members of the Reagan administration, the cartel was making an annual income of more than $400 million and was backed by several right-wing death squads.
[5] Ex-DEA agent Michael Levine once accused the CIA of facilitating multiple Latin American drug cartels, most notably "La Corporación".