Colonel Henry Pinto, leading the investigation, announced on 2/3 that authorities conducted "22 searches" at homes where they "found evidence like banknotes."

The C-130 Hercules transport plane crashed after landing at El Alto International Airport, near the capital La Paz, on 27/2. The incident destroyed several cars and damaged some trucks. According to the Ministry of Economy, the aircraft was transporting 17 million banknotes, totaling 50 million bolivianos (approximately 7,2 million USD), for delivery to the country's Central Bank.

Authorities at the scene on 28/2, after a military transport plane carrying cash crashed in Bolivia. Photo: AFP

The accident resulted in 24 fatalities. Seven of the eight crew members survived.

Residents rushed to the crash site, collecting cash scattered everywhere, forcing authorities to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Minister of Economy Jose Gabriel Espinoza estimated that "nearly 30%" of the money on the plane had been stolen.

The Central Bank of Bolivia stated that the involved banknotes would be invalidated and would not be accepted at banks or financial institutions.

Firefighters use water cannons to disperse a crowd at the scene of the plane crash carrying money in Bolivia on 27/2. Video: Sputnik

Huyen Le (According to AFP)