7 held as 6,969 kg of marijuana seized in Paraguay River shootout
Senad, the Naval Prefecture and prosecutors intercepted marijuana boats on the Paraguay River near Villa Franca after a predawn shootout on 22 July 2018. Seven people were detained and about 6,969 kg of marijuana seized from vessels meant to transfer the load to a larger ship.
🇵🇾 Paraguay River at Km 1421, 7 km downstream of Villa Franca, Ñeembucú · Paraguay
Around 3:00 on the morning of Sunday 22 July 2018, Senad agents exchanged
gunfire on the Paraguay River with drug traffickers moving in boats loaded with
marijuana.[1]The joint team of Senad, the Naval Prefecture and the Public
Ministry detained seven people operating the boats, while others reached the
bank and escaped in the darkness.[1]Senad identified one of those held,
46-year-old Jorge Carlino Silva Aguilera, as an alleged financier of the
criminal group, which investigators described as a family clan with other
brothers still fugitives.[1]
Officers intercepted the boats at Km 1421 of the Paraguay River, 7 km downstream
of Villa Franca and 20 km from Alberdi in Ñeembucú, as they moved the load
toward a larger vessel for river transport.[1]After weighing, the load
totalled 6,968.9 kilograms of marijuana carried by a large launch and an
aluminium boat at the moment of the interception.[2]Senad officers believed
the load was ready to be transshipped to a larger vessel given its tonnage.[2]A second account said the joint operation stopped the marijuana from crossing
from the Paraguay River bank to reach the Argentine coast.[3]
Senad said the action followed earlier investigations linked to the 2015 seizure
of 13 tonnes of marijuana at Villeta from the same organisation.[2]
Photos and video
Packages of marijuana seized in the Paraguay River operation. Photo: Senad.Photo details
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Source: Última HoraSeven people were detained in the river operation, including the alleged financier Jorge Silva. Photo: Senad.Photo details
The submitted Ultima Hora account reports 6,980 kilos while ABC Color reports a post-weighing total of 6,968 kilos and 900 grams; the report uses the weighed figure and Hoy reported almost 6,900 kilos.
Ultima Hora names one detainee Hernando Mongelós Rodas (39) while ABC Color names Arnaldo Mongelós Rodas (39); the other six names and ages otherwise match.
Ultima Hora says the river destination was still unknown while La Nación and Hoy said the load was bound for the Argentine coast; the report attributes each account.
No court outcome, seizure value or laboratory confirmation was reported in the three accounts opened for this report.
The two Ultima Hora images are Senad handout photos republished by the outlets; no independent caption confirms the exact boat or detainees shown beyond the outlet captions.
SENAD and detector dogs seized 10 kg of marijuana hidden inside a welding machine in courier cargo at Silvio Pettirossi airport on 9 November 2026. The deteriorated load, sent from the United States with California-labelled packs, was placed under prosecutor María Irene Álvarez while investigations continue.
SENAD agents searched two rural properties at Maracana, Canindeyu, over the weekend and eliminated 1,668 kilos of marijuana, including 1,516 kilos of chopped cannabis and 172 kilos of pressed packs. Prosecutor Juan Benegas accompanied the operation, which investigators say targeted a stash feeding the Brazilian market.
Police in Curuguaty seized about 1,699.9 kg of marijuana, including 3 kg of skunk, from an abandoned white Toyota Hilux after a pursuit on the rural road between Araujo Cué and Acepar. No one was detained, and the load and vehicle were placed at the disposal of the competent authorities.
Customs officers at Silvio Pettirossi airport found 6 kg of suspected marijuana hidden in two packs of paediatric wet wipes in a courier shipment from Miami on 30 October 2026. A second check turned up 46.5 kg of suspected ketamine in printer boxes, taking the total to 52.5 kg of suspected drugs; SENAD took over both cases.
