Paraguayan authorities made a record-breaking discovery on Tuesday, finding over 4 tons of cocaine hidden within a shipment of sugar destined for Belgium. President Santiago Peña described the discovery, dubbed “Operation Sweetness,” as one of a series of “very sad episodes” that have transformed the strategically positioned nation into a key transit point for drug trafficking in the region.
Peña expressed optimism that the seizure, estimated to be worth around $240 million, would disrupt the cocaine trade and announced that police are pursuing those responsible. He stated, “I believe this sends a message to organized gangs that they should not use Paraguay as a transit point; they will encounter determined authorities working in a coordinated manner.” He also promised further efforts to enhance port security, adding, “Gangs will not be able to avoid all the controls we are implementing.”
On Monday, agents from Paraguay’s anti-drug agency, Senad, began inspecting the shipping containers filled with 88-pound sacks of sugar at Puerto Caacupemi, a river port in the capital, Asunción. By Tuesday, they were still sorting and weighing the cocaine concealed within the cargo.
The origin of the drugs is currently unknown. While Paraguay does not produce cocaine, unlike neighboring Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru, it has become a focal point for smuggling operations in recent years. The small landlocked nation has gained notoriety as a haven for smuggling illicit goods, including cigarettes, luxury items, and drugs, as cartel leaders seek out new routes to reach emerging markets. This has resulted in corruption and violence in a country previously unfamiliar with such issues.
Several of the largest cocaine seizures in Europe, particularly in the port of Antwerp, Belgium, have been traced back to Paraguay’s bustling river ports, where illicit deliveries can easily go unnoticed. “Geographically, Paraguay occupies a strategic position for organized crime due to its proximity to the world’s largest cocaine producers,” Francisco Ayala, Senad spokesperson, stated from the port where authorities inspected the cocaine haul. “It has a globally recognized river traffic system… it’s perfect.”