the city's economy has suffered a great loss, due to the lack of supervision and low prices in bolivia compared with those of brazil. not only consumers are turning to the bolivian economy, but entrepreneurs as well due to free trade zone of cobija (the capital of pando department and nicolás suárez province). every day, new shops and businesses are built by brazilians living in the neighboring towns of epitaciolândia and even those who reside in rio branco, are investing in counties within bolivia. the unprotected border of both countries is also affected by trafficking of drugs, weapons, fuel and goods.