Priest held over cocaine stash

The Aymara priest who blessed the Bolivian President Evo Morales at his inauguration ceremony has been arrested in possession of 240kg of cocaine.

Police found a cocaine laboratory in the home of the priest, Valentin Mejillones. His son and a Colombian couple were also detained. The stash of liquid cocaine seized was valued at $240,000 (£153,000).

Mr Mejillones told local media he had been tricked by the Colombians, and the Vice President, Alvaro Garcia, said Mr Morales had not chosen the priest to preside at the swearing-in ceremony.