Fake police officers charged after alleged home invasion plot

Four men allegedly posing as police officers have been charged in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, following their arrest during a procedure in the early hours of Saturday. Prosecutor Osvaldo Zaracho has formally accused Patricio Vera Sánchez, César Ramón Alviso Duarte, Fabio Ramón Maidana Ortigoza, and Elvio Paiva Riveros of impersonating public officials, resisting arrest, and violating arms laws.

The suspects were apprehended after police attempted to verify the occupants of a suspicious-looking Toyota Wish. The men attempted to flee but were intercepted. During the intervention, they were found wearing police tactical gear, including vests and caps bearing the National Police insignia. They were also in possession of a .22 caliber pistol and a .357 Magnum revolver.

Investigators also seized a blueprint of a residence that clearly marked the location of a safe, leading authorities to suspect the group was en route to commit another robbery. This suspicion is further supported by investigators who link the four men to a violent home invasion that occurred the previous Sunday in the same area.

In that prior incident, three masked assailants reportedly broke into a home, violently subdued the occupants in front of their children, and stole approximately 15 million Paraguayan guaranis. The prosecutor has requested pre-trial detention for the four accused, who are currently being held at the Departmental Police Directorate.