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AFP, LA PAZ
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Thousands of Bolivians on Tuesday rushed to banks to exchange banknotes at risk of being mistaken for money stolen from a military plane that crashed at the weekend, reporters said.
A Bolivian Air Force plane crashed after landing at El Alto International Airport on Friday last week, killing 24 people and showering the ground with banknotes.
The aircraft was carrying 17.1 million notes of various denominations totaling 423 million bolivianos (US$60.7 million), destined for the Central Bank of Bolivia (BCB).
People read lists of invalidated “B” series banknote serial numbers posted outside the Central Bank of Bolivia headquarters in La Paz on Tuesday.
Photo: AFP
Bystanders grabbed the cash, prompting police to use tear gas to repel them. About 30 percent of the money was looted, according to the government.
The BCB has canceled all the banknotes transported on the flight, which belonged to a series containing the letter B.
However, Bolivians fear that the money would remain in circulation and end up being worthless while it is still in their wallets.
Meanwhile, traders are no longer accepting banknotes from earlier batches that also contain the letter B, even though they have not been canceled.
Thousands of people lined up outside the BCB, and banks in La Paz and the neighboring city of El Alto on Tuesday to exchange their money.
“A person selling bread wouldn’t take” one of my banknotes, said Serapio Mayta, a 77-year-old retiree, after waiting for two hours to exchange his money.
Also waiting was Blanca Molina, a 78-year-old housewife, who said her cash savings were also affected.
BCB President David Espinoza appealed to the public for understanding, urging people to accept legal tender.
