CNN —Authorities in Paraguay seized over 4 tons of cocaine with a market value of around $240 million inside a shipment of sugar that was destined for Belgium, the country’s anti-drug agency Senad said Tuesday.
The cocaine bust – named “Operation Sweetness” – is the largest in the country’s history and was carried out in capital Asuncion’s seaport, according to Senad.
Rachid provided few details into the investigation but said an organized criminal group was likely behind the shipment.
“Nowadays, drugs don’t leave Paraguay, the drugs are confiscated here in our territory, and now the big challenge is to prevent drugs entering Paraguay, clearly the country is not a cocaine producer,” Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña told local media after the drug bust.
Peña said the country is “used as drug route and obviously this (bust) is going to discourage (traffickers).”“I think this is a signal sent to organized crime groups to stop using Paraguay, because they will be met with authorities that are determined,” the president said.
Persons:
Senad, –, Jalil Rachid, Rachid, don’t, ”, Santiago Peña, Peña
Organizations:
CNN, Authorities, ABC
Locations:
Paraguay, Belgium, Asuncion’s, Paraguayan