A drug scandal rocks the South American country of Paraguay. Amilcar Fretes Escobar, son of Paraguayan Supreme Court President Antonio Fretes, has been accused of receiving a US$368,000 bribe to prevent the extradition of Brazilian criminal Kassem Mahamad Hijazi.
Hijazi faces money laundering charges in the United States and Washington obtained his extradition in July.
He had been in detention in Paraguay since August 24, 2021 when he was intercepted by local police in Ciudad del Este and sanctioned by the Ministry of Finance the same day along with Khalil Ahmad Hijazi and Liz Paola Doldán.
Authorities believe the Brazilian is linked to the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah and is one of the suspects in the assassination of prosecutor Pecci in Colombia on May 10 this year.
In light of this, the judge’s son had to resign from his position as judge in Itaipu, assuring that his father was unaware of the alleged agreement.
In any event, the Supreme Court Justice has requested an indefinite leave of absence from his post as President of the Court for “health reasons” and his resignation is not out of the question as he turns 75 soon.
The case was also discussed by US Ambassador Marc Ostfield at a press conference with Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benítez, where he said he supported the government in its fight against organized crime, transnational crime and money laundering.
Washington is offering a US$5 million reward for obtaining accurate information on those involved in the death of prosecutor Marcelo Pecci.
Asked about the Fretes case, Ostfield said that “my priority as ambassador is to support Paraguay’s democratic institutions in the fight against corruption and impunity.”
Prosecutor Marcelo Pecci investigated sensitive cases related to the organized crime and drug trafficking that plague the landlocked South American nation. These were high profile cases in Paraguay, such as the so-called Operativo A Ultranza, which is considered the largest anti-narcotics operation in the country’s history.
He also dealt with the increasing presence of contract killings in the country, with cases such as the murder of Mauricio Schwartzman, who worked for a criminal organization, or the murder of Fátima Rejala in Mariano Roque Alonso, the woman allegedly working for the Insfrán clan worked, which was also examined in Operativo A Ultranza.
Also investigating several crimes in the region Pedro Juan Caballero, including the murder of Amambay Governor Haylee Carolina Acevedo’s daughter.
In Latin America, contract killings are a byproduct of organized crime linked to drug trafficking.
Criminal organizations are involved in various illegal businesses, not just drug trafficking, where there is a more direct and quantitative link.
The groups operating there belong to the First Capital Command of Brazil (PCC), an opposing organization of the Red Command in the fight for control of the favelas of Rio de Janeiro.
The opposition Liberal Party proposed impeachment proceedings against the President of the Court, but was defeated by MPs from the ruling party and Honor Colorado, a faction close to former President Horacio Cartes. The final result after a roll-call vote was 33 votes in favour, 27 against and three abstentions.
Through 801 operations against drug trafficking, Paraguay has seized US$223 million this year, the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (Senad) reported Monday (28). The actions enabled the seizure of 3,031 kilograms of cocaine, more than 6,538 tons of marijuana and 48,066 cans of crack, 244 vehicles, 14 airplanes and 316 arrests.
Paraguay emerges as the largest producer of marijuana in South America, supplying compressed cannabis to Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.
With information from latinapress
Deep Dive
For the complete picture, read our in-depth guide: Paraguay: Washington's Most Valued Ally in Latin America
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