The National Anti-Drug Secretariat (Senad) carried out six raids last Sunday, January 9. The operation called “Navis” had the objective of dismantling a gang dedicated to drug trafficking destined for Europe.
The investigation lasted seven months. What was striking was that the leader of the gang was Fernando Balbuena, son of former PLRA deputy Elvis Balbuena.
On Thursday, January 13, Julio Acevedo, former director of Tacumbú and current member of the PLRA board, was also arrested as part of the same operation.
COMPLAINT
Last Friday, Marlene Orué, representative of the PLRA, filed a criminal complaint with the Public Ministry against both Liberal leaders. This, as a result of Acevedo, presented as an accounting of the expenses of the last municipal (October 2021), invoices issued by the metallurgical company of Fernando Balbuena.
Orué warns that the bills issued may represent money from drug trafficking. In addition, the metallurgical company “FB” carried out the transportation service for liberal leaders in Bahía Negra, district of Alto Paraguay. Being striking that a company with these purposes is dedicated to the transport service.
“Julio Acevedo presents this very striking bill by Fernando Balbuena. We have until the end of March to present the accountability, but we are already finishing it, so we believe that it is the only irregular invoice that we will find,” he said.
Acevedo, as campaign manager for the department of Alto Paraná, received G. 35 million in bonuses. The former director of Tacumbú, as an accounting of these resources, presents an invoice from Fernando Balbuena’s FB metallurgical company for G. 27 million.
So, in order to ensure that it is money from drug trafficking, the attorney made the complaint to the Public Ministry so that the documents can be investigated.
It should be remembered that only Julio Acevedo is a member of the board. Fernando Balbuena has no ties to the PLRA. Only the fact of being the son of Elvis Balbuena, a former national deputy and also a member of the board.
DIRECTORY
This criminal complaint is not related to a pronouncement of the board of directors. It should be remembered that Efraín Alegre, head of the party, has not ruled on the possibility of expelling Acevedo for this case.
In a video posted a week ago, Alegre said that money from organized crime has permeated politics. In addition, he stated that he has filed unsuccessful complaints with the Public Ministry. However, he did not say anything about what will happen to Acevedo inside his party.
Blas Llano, another of the party’s main leaders, has political ties to Acevedo. In response to inquiries from the press, he stated at the time that he doubts that Acevedo has links to organized crime. He also stressed that it is impossible for him to know the history of each person who is part of his movement.
