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Asunción police seize 13 suspected stolen phones near Mercado 4
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Crime & Justice

Asunción police seize 13 suspected stolen phones near Mercado 4

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Police in Asunción seized 13 cell phones of dubious origin near the San Miguel gallery in the Mercado 4.
  • The operation followed reports of phone thefts during recent Independence Day celebrations.
  • While some phones were confirmed stolen, the lack of a comprehensive database and timely reports led to the release of two suspects.

In a targeted operation near Asunción's bustling Mercado 4, specifically around the San Miguel gallery, police have confiscated 13 cell phones suspected of being stolen. This action comes in the wake of numerous reports of phone thefts that marred the recent Independence Day festivities in the capital's historic center. The proximity of the Mercado 4, a known hub for the resale of such items, made it a logical focus for law enforcement efforts.

In less than 24 hours of controls carried out in the vicinity of the San Miguel gallery of Mercado 4 in Asunción, efectivos of the 3rd Metropolitan Police Station seized 13 cell phones of different brands, presumably stolen.

— ABC ColorReporting the seizure of suspected stolen cell phones.

During routine patrols on streets adjacent to the gallery, officers intercepted two individuals, Víctor Manuel Bernal Fariña and Manuel Mathias Bernal Vera, traveling on a motorcycle. A search revealed a bag containing 10 cell phones of various brands, including Samsung, Motorola, and Redmi. Shortly after, another individual, Juan Carlos Crichigno Pelliccetti, was apprehended in the same area. He was found with three additional phones and, notably, a machete and a table knife. Pelliccetti has a prior record, including charges for aggravated theft in 2022 and drug trafficking in 2025.

The suspects, residing in Bañado Sur, also carried a bag in which they had 10 cell phones.

— ABC ColorDetailing the items found in possession of the first two apprehended individuals.

While one of the phones found in Pelliccetti's possession was confirmed to be stolen, the investigation faced a significant hurdle: the absence of a centralized database for stolen phones and a lack of immediate reporting. This deficiency meant that authorities could not definitively link the other seized devices to specific theft reports. Consequently, despite the confiscations and Pelliccetti's criminal history, both Bernal Fariña and Bernal Vera were released by the Public Ministry, although the phones remain as evidence. This situation underscores a systemic challenge in combating phone theft and illicit trade in Asunción, highlighting the need for improved tracking and reporting mechanisms.

Crichigno Pelliccetti also carried a machete and a table knife in his waist under his coat.

— ABC ColorDescribing additional items found on one of the suspects.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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