Organized Crime in Paraguay: A Complex Issue
Key Issues
Paraguay faces several significant challenges related to organized crime:
- Influence of high-level politicians: There is a strong link between high-level politicians and criminal activities, undermining the country’s democratic processes.
- Mafia-style groups: Paraguayan mafia-style groups control much of the drug trafficking both inside and outside of prisons.
- Guerrilla groups: Guerrilla groups charge a ‘revolutionary tax’ and attack agricultural infrastructure.
- Cigarette smuggling and drug trafficking: The largest Brazilian mafia groups have Paraguayan chapters, which dominate the cigarette smuggling, and drug and arms trafficking markets in the country.
- Corruption: Corruption is widespread within the judicial system, particularly in lower courts and regional offices, contributing to impunity for high-ranking officials.
Areas of Improvement
Paraguay needs to address several areas:
- Transparency and accountability: The country has taken steps to improve transparency and accountability but still lacks a strong legal framework for access to information.
- Extradition: Despite having signed extradition treaties, Paraguay has failed to extradite high-level politicians involved in criminality.
- Implementation of laws: The implementation of laws against organized crime is weak due to the lack of clear policies and comprehensive national plans or strategies.
- Penitentiary system: The penitentiary system faces numerous challenges, with overpopulation leading to increased criminal activity both inside and outside the system.
- Law enforcement agencies: Law enforcement agencies have been accused of corruption and involvement in criminal activities.
Progress
Paraguay has made progress in several areas:
- Cyber-security: The country has a national plan for cyber-security and a computer emergency response team to respond to cyber incidents.
- Business climate: Despite challenges, the business climate in Paraguay is improving, with opportunities in agribusiness due to rising commodity prices.
- Support for victims: The government has implemented new procedures to screen children traveling alone for trafficking indicators and provide support for victims.
Conclusion
The report highlights the complex nature of organized crime in Paraguay, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of this issue.