Police suspect financiers are empowering bank-robbing groups in Paraguay

Paraguayan police are investigating a pattern of sophisticated bank robberies, suspecting that organized criminal groups are being financed by external parties who provide the necessary resources for such large-scale attacks. This revelation comes after a violent incident in Santa Rita.

In the early hours of June 16, 2026, a group of over 20 heavily armed individuals attacked three bank branches and a currency exchange in downtown Santa Rita using explosives. The targeted institutions included branches of Banco Familiar, GNB, and Ueno Bank, located along Route PY06. The assailants reportedly arrived in at least five vehicles and engaged in a firefight with police, briefly taking one officer hostage.

National Police Commander César Silguero stated that these groups appear to regroup consistently. "We believe it is a group that continues to regroup, because in almost all events where explosives have been used, we have managed to identify, to detain part of the group, but after a while they rearm themselves to continue with these robberies," he explained. Silguero also confirmed suspicions of financiers backing these operations, providing the materials needed for such heists.

To combat this evolving criminal tactic, which is not confined to Paraguay, Silguero announced international cooperation with law enforcement agencies in Brazil and Argentina. He communicated with the Minister of the Interior to request permission to travel to the scene of the attack, aiming to personally oversee the investigation and preventive security measures in the area.