Hercules C-130 aircraft carrying Rp1 trillion in cash crashes; money looted by locals

El Alto International Airport in Bolivia was the scene of a fatal crash when a Hercules C-130 cargo aircraft went down after landing, killing 24 people. The aircraft, which had arrived from Santa Cruz, was carrying banknotes from the Central Bank BCBB amounting to 17.1 million notes in denominations, worth 423 million bolivianos (around Rp1 trillion). Witnesses rushed to the crash site to scoop up the spilled cash, prompting police to deploy tear gas to quell the crowd. Video footage shows the aircraft on the ground and vehicles badly damaged; other footage shows looters fleeing tear gas and police, some throwing stones and forming lines with shields. The Bolivian National Journalists Association, quoted by the BBC, described violent attacks on the press by those attempting to steal the cash. AFP reported that around 30% of the money had already been looted. In response, the government announced on Wednesday (4 March 2026) that all notes carried on the flight would be cancelled. Notes with serial B were reportedly no longer accepted by merchants; the money on the ill-fated Hercules was deemed to be “valueless”. BCB President David Espinoza urged the public to understand the situation and to accept legitimate cash; the bank has provided a cash-verification tool on its website for Bolivians to check the authenticity of their banknotes. Defence Minister Marcelo Salinas said: “I want to make clear to those who attempted to take money from the aircraft involved in this tragedy that this money has no legal value… any attempt to use it is a crime.” He also urged those responsible for vandalism in the area to show restraint and respect the mourning and the difficult times the country is enduring.