DEA Collaborates with Bolivia as Agency's Return to Country Nears, Minister Says

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is working with Bolivia on information sharing for anti-drug efforts as the agency prepares to reestablish a presence in the country.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is already working with Bolivia on the exchange of information for the fight against drug trafficking, while the agency's return to the country is being finalized, according to the Bolivian interior minister.

Why it matters

The DEA's return to Bolivia marks a shift in relations between the two countries, which had expelled the U.S. anti-drug agency in 2008 amid tensions over coca cultivation and drug interdiction efforts. This renewed collaboration signals a potential easing of tensions and a joint commitment to combating the illegal drug trade.

The details

According to the Bolivian interior minister, the DEA is currently collaborating with Bolivian authorities on information sharing to support anti-drug trafficking efforts, even as the final details of the agency's return to the country are being worked out. The DEA was expelled from Bolivia in 2008 by then-President Evo Morales, who accused the agency of spying and undermining Bolivia's sovereignty.

  • The DEA was expelled from Bolivia in 2008.
  • The agency is now preparing to reestablish a presence in the country.

The players

DEA

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the federal law enforcement agency responsible for combating the illegal drug trade.

Bolivia

A South American country that expelled the DEA in 2008 amid tensions over coca cultivation and drug interdiction efforts.

Evo Morales

The former president of Bolivia who ordered the expulsion of the DEA from the country in 2008, accusing the agency of spying and undermining Bolivia's sovereignty.

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The takeaway

The renewed collaboration between the DEA and Bolivia signals a potential easing of tensions between the two countries and a joint commitment to combating the illegal drug trade, though the details of the DEA's return to Bolivia are still being finalized.