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Vázquez Group accused of home invasion in Paraguay; guards allegedly stole savings
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Conflict & Security

Vázquez Group accused of home invasion in Paraguay; guards allegedly stole savings

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A woman in Asunción, Paraguay, reported that private guards and a crane entered her property and began demolishing her home, allegedly at the behest of the Vázquez Group, which is building a housing complex nearby.
  • The woman claims the guards, hired by the group through an intermediary, also stole money she had saved for property taxes.
  • Neighbors reported being contacted by the group for property purchases and noted unusual municipal actions, while a court document shows a past eviction notice for the property.

Miriam Ramírez reported to police and prosecutors that the Vázquez Group, led by Federico Miguel Vázquez, allegedly invaded her home in Asunción's Santísima Trinidad neighborhood, where she has lived for 22 years. She stated that private guards demolished her wall and broke her gate, entering with a crane to place corrugated metal sheets, all while she and her husband were away.

On July 2, they came to attack, tore down my wall and entered. And the neighbors saved my house, let's say. I went to the doctor that day and they tore down the whole wall. They put sheeting in front and the truck was already arriving, a crane, to demolish the house.

— Miriam RamírezDescribing the alleged invasion of her home.

Ramírez recounted that on July 2, her wall was torn down and her house was entered. "They broke the wall first, entered, and then broke all the doors. They entered my room, took all the furniture outside, and also stole money I had saved for the municipality, 35 million guaraníes," she said. Neighbors intervened to prevent the demolition, causing the guards to flee.

The woman believes the Vázquez Group is behind the takeover, using Rodolfo Manuel Fernández Almada as a supposed straw man. Fernández Almada reportedly obtained a municipal resolution on April 10 authorizing the transfer of Ramírez's property title. Neighbors have also reported similar pressures from Ueno and the Vázquez Group regarding their homes.

They broke the wall first, entered, and then broke all the doors. They entered my room, meaning, they took all the furniture outside and also stole money I had saved for the municipality for the process I was doing, 35 million guaraníes.

— Miriam RamírezDetailing the alleged damage and theft during the home invasion.

A court document from June 3, 2008, shows an eviction and displacement order issued by judicial officer Juan Bogado Domínguez. Ramírez confirmed she felt pressured by the Vázquez Group to leave her home, despite having initiated property titling procedures.

Yes, like that.

— Miriam RamírezResponding to a question about feeling pressured by the Vázquez Group to leave her home.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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