In La Paz on the 3rd, President Paz appointed Ernesto Justiniano as defense
minister, replacing Marcelo Salinas, who resigned on the 2nd. Paz said drug
crime is a "cancer" that must be eradicated and praised Justiniano's experience
combating narcotics. Justiniano, born in 1969, is a former vice minister of
social defense and ex-legislator with long experience in public administration
and anti-narcotics roles.