BOLIVIA

British ex-soldier arrested in tourist town

A man who identified himself as a former British special forces soldier has been arrested in an Amazon jungle tourist town for illegal possession of a submachine gun, a pistol and an unspecified quantity of cocaine, authorities said Wednesday.

Mark David Hassell was arrested Monday night in his room at a boarding house in Rurrenabaque after neighbours complained that he had threatened them, said Navy Capt. Cimar Vides, the regional military chief.

Hassell was taken to the regional capital, Trinidad, where he was to appear before a judge on illegal arms and cocaine possession charges, Vides said.

Hassell had the insignia of various British military units tattooed on his body, the official said. He added that Hassell had overstayed a tourist visa obtained last year.

“He has been an elite soldier. He was decorated and took part in the Bosnia war,” Vides said.

The British Embassy said it was providing consular assistance to Hassell but declined further comment.

The police officer who arrested Hassell said the suspect gave his age as 43 and reported he had been in the British Special Forces and had also fought in Afghanistan.