Top Military Officials Arrested in Paraguay-Brazil Arms Trafficking Bust

Cross-border operation uncovers $243 million arms smuggling ring from Europe to South America, involving former Paraguayan military leaders and an Argentine businessman.

Several former top military officials in Paraguay have been arrested as part of a cross-border law enforcement operation with Brazil to disband an arms smuggling ring that brought firearms from Europe to South America.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was also involved in the year-long investigation.
Close to 43,000 pieces of such weapons — worth around $243 million — were imported to Paraguay over the past three years under the scheme.
At least 13 people have been detained in Paraguay, including the former head of Paraguay’s office in charge of controlling the imports and distribution of firearms known as Dimabel, which is a division of the armed forces.
A company based in Paraguay’s capital of Asunción that is led by an Argentine businessman was importing the weapons from manufacturers in Croatia, Turkey, the Czech Republic and Slovenia.