Paraguay’s National Anti-Drug Secretariat (Senad) and Brazil’s Federal Police ran Operation Nueva Alianza XXVIII in Amambay department from 16 to 25 November 2021, with helicopters from the Paraguayan Air Force and support from the Public Ministry.[1][2] Raids focused on the sectors of Santa Ana, Trabuco and Alpasa.[1][2]
On the first day in Santa Ana, troops destroyed 10 narco camps and seized 3,670 kilograms of marijuana ready for shipment to Brazil, the Brazilian site Dourado News reported.[1] After the first four days, Senad counted 71 eradicated hectares, 17,750 kilograms of pressed marijuana and 50 dismantled camps, for 230 tonnes out of circulation and about US$6.9 million in lost profit for traffickers.[2] During an overflight, agents spotted an abandoned Paraguayan-plated Toyota Hilux pickup whose occupants had apparently fled at the sound of the helicopters.[2]
Final count and a new intelligence base
By the close on 25 November, the operation had eradicated 131 hectares of marijuana crops and dismantled 94 narco camps, and destroyed 23 tonnes of marijuana ready for distribution.[1] With those numbers, Hoy estimated at least 416 tonnes of marijuana taken out of circulation.[1]
At the closing ceremony in Pedro Juan Caballero, Senad minister Zully Rolón and Federal Police organised-crime director Luiz Flávio Zampronha opened the Mbareté Strategic Intelligence Directorate base, a joint centre against organised crime on a property seized in a binational anti-drug operation.[1]
Senad said the combined 2021 operations had destroyed 2,065 hectares of marijuana crops, costing traffickers more than US$188 million in lost profit.[1] The Federal Police added that seven years of joint work had cost international drug trafficking US$1.1 billion and taken 6,000 tonnes of marijuana out of circulation.[1]
