Asunción, IP Agency.- Two Argentine citizens were detained at the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, within the framework of the operation against an international drug trafficking network between Paraguay, Argentina and Spain, coordinated with Argentine security agencies and the National Anti-Drug Secretariat of Paraguay.
Both women were recruited by a criminal scheme that has elements within Argentine territory and intended to board a flight to Madrid, Spain, but were detained during the intervention led by prosecutor Elva Cáceres, with support from the Department of Airport Control and Migration. .
The women identified as Nirvana Trinidad Guzmán, 21 years old, and Milagros Soledad Casco, 24 years old, were transferred to Paraguay, where other members of the criminal structure would be in charge of the logistics for the ingestion and transfer of the drug capsules within the organization of the detainees.
Both were referred to a healthcare center where abdominal examinations were performed, which corroborated the presence of a total of 154 cocaine capsules distributed within the body and in its private parts.
Capture of the recruiter
Subsequently, the group raided a hotel located in the city of Luque where the women were staying for several days prior to the flight.
In that place, a woman identified as Aleixa Noemí Coronel Cañete, who operated as a “recruiter and coordinator” of mules, was captured. Another 44 capsules of the substance were found inside his room.
Between the two Argentine citizens and the recruiter, 203 capsules were seized, weighing 2 kilos and 358 grams of cocaine.
Several detainees in Argentina
In a coordinated manner, the Argentine authorities carried out several raids that led to the capture of 10 people of different nationalities (Peru, French Guyana, Suriname and Argentina), among whom is the leader of the organization.
Throughout the development of the operation, 33 kilos of MDMA, 2 and a half kilos of cocaine, 1,250 LSD dies, 250 grams of amphetamines, 14 thousand ecstasy pills and 4 and a half liters of liquid cocaine were seized. Cash, cell phones, computer equipment and other evidence were also confiscated, the National Anti-Drug Secretariat reported.
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**Interview with Prosecutor Elva Cáceres on the Recent Drug Trafficking Operation**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Prosecutor Cáceres. Can you provide us with some details about the recent operation at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport?
**Prosecutor Cáceres:** Thank you for having me. Yes, we recently conducted a significant operation against a drug trafficking network that spans Paraguay, Argentina, and Spain. We detained two Argentine women, Nirvana Trinidad Guzmán, 21, and Milagros Soledad Casco, 24, who were attempting to board a flight to Madrid with drugs concealed in their bodies.
**Interviewer:** That sounds concerning. How were these women recruited, and what connections did the network have across the involved countries?
**Prosecutor Cáceres:** The women were recruited as part of a sophisticated criminal scheme which operates within Argentina. They were likely promised financial incentives or other benefits in exchange for their involvement in smuggling operations. Our collaboration with Argentine security agencies was crucial in identifying and apprehending them before the drugs could reach their destination.
**Interviewer:** What steps are being taken to dismantle the entire network behind this operation?
**Prosecutor Cáceres:** We are actively investigating the broader network. Intelligence gathering and collaboration with law enforcement in Argentina and Spain are essential to trace the other members of this operation. We have reason to believe that there are additional individuals involved in logistics and drug preparation on both sides of the border.
**Interviewer:** This incident highlights an ongoing issue in international drug trafficking. What measures are being implemented to prevent such activities in the future?
**Prosecutor Cáceres:** We are enhancing our airport security protocols and improving inter-agency cooperation both domestically and internationally. Additionally, we are looking into awareness campaigns to educate potential recruits about the dangers and consequences of getting involved in drug trafficking. Our goal is to cut off the recruitment pipeline and disrupt the operations of these criminal organizations.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Prosecutor Cáceres, for sharing these insights. We appreciate your efforts in combating drug trafficking and keeping communities safe.
**Prosecutor Cáceres:** Thank you for having me. It’s important that we continue this dialogue and work together to prevent drug-related crimes and protect our society.
