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A senior Bolivian official says an air force captain has been detained as he tried to take off from near the Peru border with 362 kilograms (796 pounds) of cocaine in his plane.

Government Minister Carlos Romero identifies the pilot as 34-year-old Yimy Jose Urzagaste.

He told a news conference Friday that the drug was destined for Brazil, where he said it would be worth more than $1 million.

Romero says officials investigated the pilot when he appeared to simulate a kidnapping and turned up hundreds of kilometres (miles) from his unit.

Officials estimate that as much as 60 per cent of the cocaine intercepted in Bolivia originates in Peru.

This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.

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