Paraguay: Elite Corruption Ties to Cocaine Trafficking Exposed

Asunción - In a shocking revelation, the son of a former Paraguayan congressman has been accused of overseeing large cocaine shipments to Europe, highlighting the country’s deep-seated corruption problem.

Arrests and Seizures

On January 9, Fernando Enrique Balbuena Acuña, alias “Riki,” was arrested along with three other individuals, including a Ukrainian national. Authorities seized nearly a ton of cocaine from a property just 200 meters from Balbuena Acuña’s home outside the capital city of Asunción.

Allegations and Denials

According to the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD), Balbuena Acuña was responsible for collecting and shipping large loads of cocaine via the Paraguay-Paraná waterway, which were then smuggled to Europe. Days after his arrest, former director of the Tacumbú Penitentiary, Julio Acevedo, was arrested for allegedly participating in Balbuena Acuña’s trafficking organization. Acevedo, a former advisor to Congress, has denied any involvement in the operation.

Paraguay’s Role in Cocaine Trafficking

The arrests highlight Paraguay’s emergence as a major cocaine exporter to Europe and beyond. In 2021, Belgian Customs Administrator Kristian Vanderwaeren reported that nearly 90 tons of seized cocaine mainly originated from three countries: Panama, Ecuador, and Paraguay.

Corruption in the Drug Trade

Corruption is a significant factor in Paraguay’s drug trade, with high-ranking officials accused of facilitating the drug trade. A 2021 investigation by InSight Crime revealed cases involving congress members, police, judicial officials, and prosecutors who allegedly protected drug traffickers.

Ports as a Hub for Cocaine Trafficking

Paraguay’s ports have become a key hub for cocaine trafficking due to its heavily-trafficked waterways and lack of effective security measures. The country is also believed to be a gateway for drugs headed to West Africa, with large seizures recorded in Senegal and the Ivory Coast.

Call for Action

The arrests serve as a stark reminder of the need for robust financial crime prevention measures to combat corruption and money laundering in Paraguay’s drug trade.

• Key takeaways:
  • Paraguay has emerged as a major cocaine exporter to Europe and beyond.
  • Corruption is a significant factor in Paraguay’s drug trade, with high-ranking officials accused of facilitating the drug trade.
  • The country’s ports have become a key hub for cocaine trafficking due to its heavily-trafficked waterways and lack of effective security measures.
  • Robust financial crime prevention measures are needed to combat corruption and money laundering in Paraguay’s drug trade.