Paraguay’s Marijuana Trafficking Bribes

August 14, 2018 Crime , Opinion , OPINION/NEWS , OTHER , South America

AFP photo

By

Ricardo Swire

A one year combined Paraguayan National Police (PNP)/SENAD SIU drug operation’s final stage manifested as a raid on the Public Ministry in Salto Del Guaira, the popular marijuana producing district that borders Brazil’s eastern side. On Wednesday August 1, 2018 the law enforcement team’s five simultaneous stings seized sixteen tons of marijuana, sixteen vehicles, two boats and a cache of 5.56mm calibre semi-automatic rifles, speed loaders and silencers.

A domestic nine member high-level trafficking network possessed the confiscated items, while operating their US$8 million marijuana cultivation and supply business, from Canindeyu department’s capital city Salto Del Guaira. The syndicate’s “protection system” comprised rogue soldiers, police, prosecutors and customs officials. Handwritten documents identified those who received payola to look the other way when drug shipments passed their duty stations.

Some conspirators leaked private police operational data and secret information on investigations. The Assistant Prosecutor for Salto Del Guairá Attorney General’s Anti-Drug Unit among those who took secret cash payments for unofficially providing intelligence to the trafficking syndicate. An ex-military man acted as consignment custodian. He was caught preparing fifteen point nine six kilos of marijuana for a Brazilian client. A bandit PNP member and his twin brother managed the marijuana’s transportation thru Canindeyú department.

According to a Brazilian Federal Police Attaché in Paraguay’s report from 2011 South America’s largest marijuana producer accommodated bases for Brazil’s First Capital Command (PCC), the Red Command or Comando Vermelho and splinter group Amigos dos Amigos. Relocated gang members nullify middlemen in adjacent countries that accommodate marijuana shipments. Since 2015 CARICOM’s intelligence data tracked PNP corruption in Paraguay’s Canindeyú province. Rogue officers accept bribes from drug traffickers and pay monthly quotas to superiors and the province’s political officials.

A Congresswoman was accused of overseeing an underworld protection squad that shielded traffickers and professional killers. Three local Congressmen were connected to Brazilian drug trafficking cartels. One congressional alternate identified as chief lieutenant of “Cabeca Branca” a Brazilian drug lord. Crooked PNP middle managers’ payola amounts depend on their unit’s proximity to profitable drug trafficking routes. Payments have ranged from US$84 monthly for officers located in the middle of Canindeyú department, to US$1,267 along the shared border with Brazil.