Details on cocaine shipments of Paraguayan origin seized abroad.
In the last three years, 47 tons of “Paraguayan” cocaine were seized, both in our territory and in European seaports. A report presented by Senator Enrique Riera indicates that, of the total number of drugs trafficked, only 10% is seized and estimates that around 470 tons of white powder were moved through Paraguay.
During the government of Mario Abdo Benítez, organized crime promoted its actions in Paraguay, reveals a report on the behavior of the drug business exposed by Senator Enrique Riera during his meetings in the United States, detailing how our country went from being a provider of marijuana to become a base of operations for cocaine trafficking.
The evidence is clear. From 2020 to date, national and international agencies seized 47,538 kilos. These cargoes passed through Paraguayan ports without being detected by the controls of the National Administration of Navigation and Ports (ANNP), the National Customs Directorate (DNA) and the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (Senad). (See graph)
The total amount of “cocaine made in Paraguay” seized, which reached 47,538 kilos, has a market value of almost US$2.5 billion. It is estimated that the seizures represent 10% or less of the total value exported, that is, the cocaine trade that passed through Paraguay in the last three years is estimated at US$ 25,000 million, since the estimate of trafficked drug would be 470 tons, according to the report.
To reference the scope of illicit trade, the dossier indicates that the General Budget of the Nation (PGN) is US$ 13,000 million. In other words, organized crime moved shipments whose costs represent 92% more than the public budget for one year, almost double. For this reason, Riera remarks that during this government the records of drug exports were broken.
RELATIONS
In the document presented by the senator, dangerous links between government officials and people suspected of being active in the cocaine trafficking business are also highlighted. Riera recalls that Abdo Benítez, in the middle of the campaign for the Presidency, allegedly received Reinaldo Javier “Cucho” Cabaña at his home, a photo that went quite viral. The esteño was captured by the Senad in September 2018 and since that date he has been deprived of liberty.
Another cited by the legislator is Arnaldo Giuzzio, who was in key positions in the fight against drug trafficking, since he went from Senad minister to Minister of the Interior. Giuzzio was removed from the security portfolio after revealing his link with the alleged Brazilian drug dealer Marcus Vinicius Espíndola Marqués de Padua, arrested last February by the Federal Police in Foz de Yguazú within the framework of Operation Turf.
The Marquis of Padua, in addition to lending his wife’s truck to the former Minister of the Interior so that he could continue his vacation trip, held several meetings seeking to be a State supplier. Even the capo’s company supposedly carried out maintenance on tactical vehicles used by the Joint Task Force (FTC) for the fight against terrorism.
Finally, Riera also highlighted that Zully Rolón, a person closely linked to Giuzzio, who was a senator candidate on the list of his former boss, remained as head of Senad.
It should be remembered that already with Rolón at the helm, Senad failed in an important arrest procedure, frustrating the arrest in Paraguay of two men accused of being drug traffickers of great interest to Brazil, Lindomar Reges Furtado and Marcus Vinicius, who the night before of the raids in our country crossed the border, but the feds still found him.
