Man Arrested Trying to Smuggle Marijuana Hidden in Vegetables into Paraguayan Prison

Authorities in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, arrested a 35-year-old man attempting to smuggle marijuana into the Center for the Pre-sentenced, formerly the Regional Penitentiary. The man, identified as Sebastián Javier Dávalos Arzamendia, was apprehended after trying to introduce contraband hidden within vegetables.

During a routine inspection of items intended for an inmate, Cristhian Andrés Ayala, prison staff discovered multiple packages wrapped in polyethylene concealed inside pumpkins, cabbages, and onions. The discovery triggered security protocols, leading to the detention of Dávalos Arzamendia.

Agents from the National Police's Anti-Narcotics Department were called to the scene. A field test on the seized substances confirmed the presence of marijuana. In total, 322.8 grams of the drug were confiscated, divided into ten portions: 47.8 grams in three packages and the remaining 275 grams in seven portions.

The case was reported to Luis Fernando Escobar, the interim prosecutor specializing in drug trafficking. Escobar ordered the arrest of Dávalos Arzamendia, who is now facing charges related to drug smuggling. The incident highlights ongoing efforts by prison authorities to prevent the introduction of illegal substances into correctional facilities.

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During the inspection of routine, functionaries of the review area detected several packages wrapped in polyethylene hidden in the interior of different vegetables, among them pumpkins, cabbages and onions.