Brazilian citizen of Lebanese origin, wanted for extradition by U.S., arrested in Paraguay

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Paraguayan authorities on Tuesday (24) arrested Kassem Mohamad Hijazi, a Brazilian citizen of Lebanese origin living in the country. The operation took place in Ciudad del Este, part of the so-called Triple Border, comprising Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil.

According to a press conference given by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Anti-Drug Secretariat, Hijazi allegedly led a network dedicated to laundering money from drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

His attorney Enrique Giménez told the press that his client is “innocent of all charges and that he is only dedicated to trade and is not linked to money laundering.” He added that Hijazi “belongs to a well-known family of Lebanese origin based in Ciudad del Este and his family was among the first group of immigrants to settle in the border region.”

After the arrest, Hijazi was transferred to Asunción by National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) personnel in a Paraguayan Air Force aircraft, where he will remain in custody, according to authorities, awaiting extradition proceedings to the United States.

Prosecutor Manuel Doldán said that the arrest was made at the request of the U.S. Justice Department for alleged money laundering. Doldán added that the U.S. request will be promptly processed, in order to comply with the international cooperation requested by the U.S. to the Paraguayan Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutor Marcelo Pecci said he could not comment on the investigation, but said that it has been ongoing for two years. Pecci added that “the detainee is a target of high strategic value to the United States and that is why international cooperation efforts are being made.”

The U.S. embassy in Paraguay issued a statement saying that “the United States is committed to supporting Paraguay’s efforts to fight corruption and promote accountability for those who undermine government institutions.”

The statement adds that the White House intends to demonstrate its “continued efforts to enforce sanctions against corrupt actors and protect the U.S. financial system from abuse. Taken in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Homeland Security, these efforts represent a comprehensive government effort to fight corruption in the Triple Border Area of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.”

The U.S. request, which had the cooperation of Paraguayan authorities, is based on Executive Order 13,818 which seeks to implement the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and “targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corruption worldwide.”