Covid-19 creates a corruption pandemic in Latin America

While certainly not endemic to the region, corruption is a problem that has plagued Latin America throughout the last hundred years. As it becomes the world’s new Covid-19 epicenter, several corruption opportunities have sprouted across Latin American countries, with the population quarantined and checks and balances reduced — as the sweeping health crisis creates the need for swift moves and contracts to fight the pandemic.

Rio de Janeiro hit the headlines on Tuesday, when Brazil’s Federal Police launched Operation Placebo, investigating alleged corruption schemes of embezzling public funds by way of overpriced contracts to build Covid-19 field hospitals. Marshals carried out search and seizure warrants at the offices of Governor Wilson Witzel and his wife Helena.

Two weeks ago, the state’s health secretary, Edmar Santos, was fired amid allegations he assisted in the defrauding of ventilator purchases for the state hospital network. A police operation to this end resulted in the arrest of at least four people, including Mr. Santos’ deputy.

Covid-19 corruption around Latin America

While Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro pushed out two Health Ministers in the space of one month due to political differences, neighbors Bolivia went one better. On May 21, Bolivia’s Health Minister Marcelo Navajas was fired and arrested for allegedly overspending millions of dollars on cheap ventilators....