La Paz, December 7 (PL-RHC)-- The Bolivian Defense Ministry will strengthen control at 20 military checkpoints located on the border with Chile, the newspaper La Razon said today.

'We will propose budgetary measures so that we can get authorization to purchase patrol vehicles, and to ensure fuel and maintenance (...), we want them to have pick up trucks', the Defense Minister Reymi Ferreira said to the newspaper.

He added that communication would be strengthen either with the state company Entel or through other mechanisms. We will also provide electricity and potable water, in addition to other needs, he said.

Ferreira and the Army commander, general Jose Luis Begazo, inspected a few days ago four military units in the border area and verified that there were common needs, so they will draw up a special budget this Monday, with the Military High Command, for the president Evo Morales to consider.

The initiative stems mainly from allegations of drug trafficking, smuggling, ambushes and assaults that turn the region into a sensitive border area, so the Government intends to strengthen control.