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Bolivia's Justice Minister Héctor Arce has denounced the holding of 9 officers by the Chilean government.
Bolivian Officers Reiterate Innocence in Chile on Smuggling Charges
Arce told a meeting of representatives from Mercosur on Saturday that the imprisonment of the men was unjust and "without any crime beyond the strict fulfillment of their duty."
Four of nine Bolivians arrested in Chile last March are awaiting trial.
They have been charged with aggravated theft, smuggling and illegal possession of weapons to prosecutors.
The men deny the charges.
Chile says the Bolivians, two soldiers and seven customs agents, were arrested within its border on March 19 and accused of attempting to steal Chilean trucks.
But Bolivia maintains the Chilean police crossed into its territory and detained the officers while they were performing a regular operation against smuggling.
Last year, Bolivia strengthened customs controls to stop the growing illegal transportation of goods to and from Chilean ports.
The border area where the incident took place is reportedly often used by smugglers who illegally bring goods into Bolivia from China via Iquique.
Numerous officials and heads of state, including the Bolivian President Evo Morales, have spoken out on behalf of the detainees, calling for the men’s release.
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