Crackdown on large-scale marijuana trafficking scheme from Paraguay to Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Arrests were made in the course of an ongoing operation that began with several concurrent raids on homes in the departments of Concepción and Amambay, both of which border Brazil, reported the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD).

Among those arrested was Rodrigo Pedrozo, considered the leader of a structure “that mobilizes producers, couriers and public officials in order to traffic drugs,” the statement said.

Also arrested was his brother, Diego Pedrozo, an assistant prosecutor of the city of Concepción, in charge of coordinating logistics and “making payments to authorities in the area so that potential drug shipments would reach their final destination,” according to SENAD.

A third detainee, Gustavo Vera, a former employee of the Concepción Prosecutor’s Office where he served as a driver, is said to be part of the logistics, while Walter Duarte is reportedly the scheme’s main logistical operator.

The source added that other members of the group have been identified, among them collaborators of the Prosecutor’s Office in charge of “liaising with authorities in the area to conduct the illegal activities.”

The shipments are alleged to be sent from the departments of Concepción and Amambay bound for the Brazilian market and for criminal groups in the country.

SENAD reported that the 36 tons of marijuana seized in July belonging to the dismantled organization are scheduled to be incinerated this Friday (17) in Concepción.

Paraguay is the largest producer of marijuana in South America and Brazil is its main destination.