Paraguay police recover stolen SUV, arrest suspect in high-end vehicle theft ring

Police in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, have recovered a stolen Toyota Fortuner and arrested a suspect believed to be part of a criminal group specializing in the theft of these high-end vehicles. The operation took place on the evening of June 10, 2026, in the Monday area of the city.

Rodrigo González Carballo, 26, was apprehended during the procedure. Authorities also recovered a white 2018 Toyota Fortuner SRV 2.8, which had been reported stolen by Arnaldo André Cardozo Montiel, 45. The recovered vehicle contained an electronic device used to bypass the keyless ignition systems common in luxury vehicles.

Police Commissioner Javier Méndez, head of the Automobile Department, stated his objective is to dismantle the criminal organization, which is thought to operate from the metropolitan area of Asunción. Notably, the owner of the recovered vehicle, Arnaldo Cardozo Montiel, has a prior record, having been arrested in 2024 for possessing a stolen Toyota Fortuner in the same city.

The theft occurred while Cardozo Montiel was attending an exam at the National University of East's Law Faculty. He discovered his vehicle missing upon exiting the examination hall approximately 40 minutes later. This incident highlights the evolving methods of car thieves, who are increasingly using sophisticated electronic devices to steal high-end vehicles, moving beyond older techniques.

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his objective is to dismantle the criminal group that would be from the metropolitan area of Asunción.