Ex-Argentine senator sentenced in Paraguay for smuggling $211,000

Former Argentine Senator Edgardo Kueider has been sentenced to two years in prison by a Paraguayan court for smuggling undeclared currency. The conviction stems from his attempt to enter Paraguay in December 2024 with $211,000 USD that he failed to declare at the border.

The incident led to Kueider's expulsion from the Argentine Senate. Paraguayan judicial sources confirmed the sentence, noting that both Kueider and his secretary, Iara Guinsel, who was apprehended with him, received suspended sentences. Guinsel was sentenced to one year and 10 months. Both will serve their time under electronic monitoring, as per the ruling by the Specialized Economic Crimes Court.

Kueider and Guinsel have already been under house arrest for the past year and eight months. This means Kueider has two months remaining on his sentence, while Guinsel has four months left to serve. The judges emphasized that the pair had entered Paraguay on five previous occasions and were aware of the legal requirement to declare sums exceeding $10,000 USD.

The court's decision stated that individuals introducing foreign currency without proper declaration are not only violating administrative duties but are also bringing goods into the customs territory outside established legal procedures. Kueider, a member of the Peronist party, faces additional charges in Argentina, including alleged illicit enrichment and bribery, with ongoing legal proceedings in the provinces of Entre Ríos and Buenos Aires. He has indicated his intention to appeal the Paraguayan conviction.