The illegal drug trade in Paraguay is significant in both production of

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: ''Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternatively ...

and trans-shipment of

cocaine Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechuan languages, Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly recreational drug use, used recreationally for its euphoria, euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from t ...

. In 2011 the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

reported that it was the largest cannabis producer in South America, accounting for 15 per cent of world cannabis production.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC; French: ''Office des Nations unies contre la drogue et le crime'') is a United Nations office that was established in 1997 as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention by combining the ...

, 9 November 2011
UNODC and Paraguay launch $10 million programme to combat drugs and crime
/ref> It was also responsible for 30-40 tons of cocaine trans-shipment annually.

History

Under President

Alfredo Stroessner Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda (; 3 November 1912 – 16 August 2006) was a Paraguayan army officer and politician who served as President of Paraguay from 15 August 1954 to 3 February 1989. Stroessner led a coup d'état on 4 May 1954 with the ...

's dictatorship (1954 - 1989), Paraguay is said to have become "a sanctuary for smugglers in arms, drugs and everyday goods such as whiskey and car parts," and Stroessner provided refuge to heroin dealer

Auguste Ricord Auguste Joseph Ricord, nicknamed ''Il Commandante'', (26 April 1911 – 1985) was a French-Corsican heroin trafficker, convicted Nazi collaborator,John SimkiAugust 2014, Spartacus Educational Publishers Ltd. and one of the founding members of the F ...

. In 1994 General Ramón Rosa Rodríguez, the head of Paraguay's national anti-drugs agency, Secretaría Nacional Antidrogas (SENAD), was assassinated whilst delivering a report to President

Juan Carlos Wasmosy Juan Carlos Wasmosy Monti (born December 15, 1938) was the president of Paraguay from August 15, 1992 until August 15, 1998. He was a member of the Colorado Party, and the country's first freely elected president, as well as the first civilian ...

. The report, which went missing, is said to have implicated ex-President

Andrés Rodríguez Andrés Rodríguez may refer to: * Andrés Rodríguez (politician) (1923–1997), president of Paraguay * Andrés Rodríguez (basketball) (born 1981), basketball player from Puerto Rico *Andres Rodriguez (show jumper) Andres Rodríguez (11 May ...

, then a Senator, as "the chief drug kingpin in Paraguay".

Dynamics

The border region with Brazil around Pedro Juan Caballero, in

Amambay Department Amambay () is a department in Paraguay. The capital is Pedro Juan Caballero. The name comes from the name of a part of the Caaguazú Cordillera, " Amambai Mountains". Amambay is the name of a fern, typical of the forest in the region. Distri ...

, is one hotspot for drug smuggling, with the Brazilian crime organizations

Comando Vermelho Comando Vermelho (, ''Red Command'' or ''Red Commando''), also known as C.V. is a Brazilian criminal organization engaged primarily in drug trafficking, arms trafficking, protection racketeering, kidnappings-for-ransom, armored truck hijacking ...

and

Primeiro Comando da Capital Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC; "First Command of the Capital", , 1533) is, according to a 2012 Brazilian Government report, the largest Brazilian criminal organization, with a membership of almost 20,000 members, 6,000 of whom are in prison ...

given as prime targets for Paraguayan anti-drugs operations in 2011.Hugo Barrios, 12 April 2011, infosurhoy.co
Paraguay ups counter-narcotics effort on border with Brazil
/ref>

References

{{Americas topic, Illegal drug trade in

Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to th ...

Crime in Paraguay by type Drugs in Paraguay

History

Dynamics

See also

References