Which authority should receive a crime report in Bolivia for robbery, violence, vehicle theft or digital fraud?

Report an emergency to 110; use the FELCC for general crime, FELCV for gender-based or domestic violence, DIPROVE for vehicle theft and the División de Cibercrimen for computer, mobile or network offences. The Fiscalía or Ministerio Público can provide criminal-case orientation, filing and follow-up.

How can travellers reduce robbery and taxi risks in Bolivia?

Use an ordered radio taxi marked with the company name and telephone number, avoid street-hailed or shared taxis, keep valuables out of sight and take extra care after dark, at transport hubs and in crowded markets. Do not resist an armed robbery, and follow captors' instructions during a kidnapping.

Where can victims seek protection and support after violence in Bolivia?

Depending on the case, contact the Policía, Fiscalía, FELCV, a municipal SLIM, DNA, SEPDAVI, SIPPASE or the Fiscalía's victim and witness protection directorate. The Defensoría del Pueblo can receive free complaints about rights violations but does not replace a criminal filing or legal representation.

How is a missing-person report filed in Bolivia?

Contact the FELCC or the División Trata y Tráfico de Personas and provide a copy of the missing person's identification, a current photograph and the reporter's identification. Local office contacts vary, so the current departmental number should be verified.

Crime in Bolivia

Q: What should a victim preserve after digital crime in Bolivia?

Do not delete, destroy, modify or forward relevant messages. Preserve screenshots or printed messages, payment vouchers, URLs and suspicious links, then report promptly to the local FELCC or División de Cibercrimen.

Crime in Bolivia includes theft, robbery, fraud, violence, trafficking, digital crime and risks linked to transport, nightlife and crowded places. Report emergencies to 110 and use the Policía Boliviana, FELCC, FELCV, Fiscalía or another specialised unit according to the incident. Risk and institutional capacity vary by region, and official statistics are recorded separately by different institutions.

Tip

Plan movement in Bolivia around the specific risk of the area, time and transport choice instead of relying on general caution. Use marked radio taxis, protect access to money and devices, and report incidents quickly because evidence, contact details and response capacity can vary by department. After violence, digital crime, trafficking or a missing-person case, contact the specialised authority and seek victim support without treating a rights complaint as a replacement for a criminal report.

byVeronica&Hugo

Common reported offences in Bolivia include robbery, theft, aggravated robbery, fraud, assault, family and gender-based violence, sexual violence, trafficking, vehicle theft and digital fraud. Police records for January to November 2023 listed 17,402 property offences, 12,629 offences against persons and 7,418 economic or financial offences; the same records included 7,829 robberies, 4,678 thefts and 3,636 fraud cases. These figures are registered reports, not a complete measure of actual prevalence. Fiscalía records for 2025 included 46,247 cases under Law 348, including 34,502 cases of family or domestic violence, 3,299 sexual-abuse cases and 3,013 rape cases. Practical risks include pickpocketing in tourist sites, markets, buses, bus stations and crowds; robbery involving taxis; police impersonation; express kidnapping for ATM or card withdrawals; drink spiking and sexual assault in clubs, hostels or contacts made through dating applications; real-estate fraud; QR-code and WhatsApp data theft; vehicle theft; and exploitation as an unwitting drug courier. Trafficking and missing-person cases require prompt contact with the police or Fiscalía. Advisories identify additional risks around La Paz and El Alto, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Rurrenabaque, Chapare, Los Yungas, Uyuni, remote areas, transport hubs and the Brazil-border zone. Chapare has limited police presence and violent crime linked to narcotrafficking; these are documented risk concentrations, not a national prevalence ranking. For an emergency, call 110. The FELCC handles general crime complaints and investigations, FELCV handles gender-based and domestic violence, DIPROVE handles vehicle theft, FELCN handles narcotics, the División de Cibercrimen handles computer, mobile and network offences, and the División Trata y Tráfico de Personas handles trafficking and missing-person cases. The Fiscalía or Ministerio Público provides criminal-case orientation, filing and follow-up. Fiscalía also lists call-centre channels including VoIP, WebChat, WhatsApp, Telegram and a virtual suggestions box; local availability should be verified. Use ordered radio taxis marked with the company name and telephone number instead of street-hailed or shared taxis. Keep luggage and valuables with you, avoid displaying cash, jewellery or expensive devices, take extra care after dark and around airports, bus terminals and crowded markets, and do not resist an armed robbery. During a kidnapping, follow the captor's instructions. Inspect luggage yourself, never carry an unknown package and avoid unmarked police vehicles. If an official asks for identification, request identification and a lawful explanation while carrying a copy of your passport and entry stamp. For some routes, such as Copacabana to La Paz, a direct daytime bus is advised. Preserve evidence after a digital incident: do not delete, destroy or modify relevant data, and do not forward incriminating messages. Keep screenshots or printed messages, payment vouchers, URLs and suspicious links, then report promptly to the local FELCC or División de Cibercrimen. A La Paz listing gives 72040947 for Cibercrimen, but current contact details must be verified. Victim support is distributed among several services. Fiscalía's Dirección de Protección a Víctimas, Testigos y Miembros del Ministerio Público provides protection and assistance, while SIPPASE helps locate services for attention, advice, containment and protection. Municipal SLIM offices support cases involving women, DNA offices protect children and adolescents, and SEPDAVI provides legal or related assistance where available. Law 348 reporting channels include the Policía, Ministerio Público, SLIM, DNA, Defensoría del Pueblo, SIJP, SEPDAVI and, where applicable, Indigenous authorities. A woman may report violence herself or another person may report it when they have knowledge of the incident. The DNA must receive reports of sexual violence against children or adolescents, notify the Ministerio Público immediately, protect identity and confidentiality, and represent the child's rights during proceedings. A child or adolescent victim does not need to file a private prosecution to participate actively. The juvenile justice pathway is separate from the adult process. The Defensoría del Pueblo accepts free written, verbal or web complaints about rights violations. It requires identification and contact details, does not accept anonymous complaints, and does not replace a criminal filing or legal representation. Its listed contacts are 800108004 and WhatsApp 72006607. A complaint to the Defensoría does not interrupt criminal deadlines. There is no single nationally evidenced one-stop victim centre; municipal and departmental capacity, contact details and response times vary. Police, Fiscalía and INE statistics are fragmented, and the latest national FELCC table reviewed covers January to November 2023, so trend claims require a date and source.