La Paz, Dec 27 (NationPress) The Bolivian government intends to detain former President Evo Morales in due time, as stated by a high-ranking official.

"We must wait for the right moment. The appropriate action will be taken, and the arrest warrant will be executed without jeopardizing the lives of innocent individuals," said Deputy Minister of Coordination and Government Management Gustavo Torrico.

The former President is currently residing in a region under the protection of a security team organized by loyal social movements in Chapare within the Cochabamba department. During his Christmas dinner, he expressed gratitude to his supporters for their backing, characterizing the attempt to arrest him as a political persecution.

Previously, on December 19, Bolivian prosecutors sought an immigration alert for Morales, who is facing accusations of human trafficking, as stated by Minister of Government Eduardo del Castillo.

The allegations against Morales, who held the presidency from 2006 to 2019, include involvement in a human trafficking case associated with a 2015 rape investigation. An arrest warrant was also issued as part of the ongoing investigation.

Del Castillo affirmed that the Bolivian Police would adhere to the court's ruling.

On Tuesday, Morales asserted that he is a victim of a ‘brutal legal war’ designed to obstruct his candidacy in the forthcoming general election and to deliver him to the United States as a ‘political trophy.’ He further accused authorities of breaching constitutional principles of presumed innocence and due process.

At that time, the former President was seeking refuge in the tropics of Cochabamba, an area where he has substantial support from coca growers.

"We have elite security," declared Vicente Choque, political secretary of the Six Federations of the Tropic of Cochabamba and a Morales supporter. He also cautioned against potential confrontations if the former president's arrest is executed.

Earlier, on October 16, an arrest warrant for Morales was issued but could not be executed due to his unknown whereabouts and the roadblocks established by his supporters that persisted for 23 days.

In September, the Bolivian government confirmed that Morales, who served as President from 2006 to 2019, is constitutionally barred from participating in the 2025 presidential elections.

This restriction arose from the nation's Constitution and was not a decision made by the current government, according to Deputy Communication Minister Gabriela Alcon.

Alcon urged Morales' followers to respect Bolivia's legal framework, as some have protested demanding his candidacy be permitted.

"The most important thing is to respect the will of the Bolivian people," Alcon emphasized, highlighting that the Constitution was ratified by its citizens and "must be upheld."