On March 4, Alfredo Guachiré, a journalist and digital activist, published footage showing smugglers operating in front of the Itá Enramada Naval Prefecture headquarters (Asunción). The images show that they had the support of the police and military. The filming dates from June 12, 2021.
Due to this situation, Arnaldo Franco, senator for the ANR and president of the Special Follow-up Commission for Combating Smuggling, summoned Emilio Fuster, minister of the Inter-institutional Unit for the prevention, combating and repression of smuggling, and Carlos Velázquez, commander of the Paraguayan National Army (brother of the Vice President of the Republic), to give his versions of the events.
VELAZQUEZ
Carlos Velázquez, commander of the Paraguayan National Navy and brother of the Vice President of the Republic, said that he only became aware of the events when they had access to the images released by the press.
“Corrective measures have been taken with sanctions. It has been passed to the military justice that sent everything back to the Prosecutor’s Office. They were two officers and six non-commissioned officers. It was decided to make a summary with 20 days of arrest and the non-commissioned officers with 15 days of arrest, ”he informed.
He stated that the images released were not captured by the closed circuit of the Navy.
“The investigation is ongoing. Logically, those responsible will come out. It is lateral to the Navy building, not inside it. I am convinced of the complicity of military personnel. There are probably more accomplices. We have been here for three years, it costs us a lot because it is difficult for people to change the chip that we are in other times, ”he said.
He finally said that he is not involved and that therefore he will not resign his position.
FRANK
Arnaldo Franco expressed at the end of the meeting at a press conference that the meeting was very productive. At the same time he lamented that this situation shows that the institutions are fragile.
“It is evident that we have advanced the fight against this organized crime that ends up in money laundering. It is evident that the complaint to the Prosecutor’s Office has been lacking. All the reports on the progress of the negotiations were important. The fact was very rude, none of the institutions made the complaint. The Prosecutor’s Office only had contact when the fact became public, “he said.
He stressed that all institutions have shown shortcomings. And that it will be up to the justice to act in this case to prosecute the actors involved. With respect to the high command, he affirmed that the Executive is the one that must decide whether to remove them or not.
“It is important to note that we had privileged information. The prosecution will also have the names of the people who have leaked to the media. There are many links, military, police and Customs officials”, he stated.
He insisted that it is a pity that they have not denounced. Therefore, he insisted that there be punishments for the police and military involved.
“We are going to be calling permanently. We’re going to work on some bills. Two sessions ago I asked for modifications to the military penal code in the part of punishments”, he expressed.
He finally said that they did not convene the Public Ministry because they wanted to focus only on the main actors.
