Over the past twelve years, Alto Paraná has established itself as the primary stage for major heists in Paraguay, with criminal organizations adopting paramilitary tactics inspired by the so-called "Nuevo Cangaço," a modality of Brazilian origin that involves besieging towns to rob banks and cash-in-transit companies.
According to surveys by the National Police, the department has already suffered five attacks of this type, surpassing the four recorded in Itapúa and the incidents in Canindeyú and San Pedro. The region is targeted because of its high agricultural production, large cooperatives, million-dollar investments, and intense commercial flow in Ciudad del Este, as well as its proximity to the borders with Brazil and Argentina, crossed by the Paraná River and escape routes through sparsely populated and wooded areas.
The most recent heist took place in the early hours of June 16, when around 20 criminals took over the urban center of Santa Rita for approximately 15 minutes and made off with about 3 billion guaranís. The group attacked the branches of Banco Familiar, Banco GNB, Santa Rita Cambios, and ueno bank with explosives and bursts of rifle fire, carrying out detonations at the first two banks before fleeing with the million-dollar loot.
To escape, two vehicles used in the operation crossed the department from south to north and were set on fire near Lake Itaipú in Hernandarias, without authorities confirming whether the occupants crossed into Brazil or whether the maneuver was merely a tactic to mislead the Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office. The criminals also burned vehicles at the entrances to downtown Santa Rita and scattered nails ("miguelitos") on the roads to prevent the arrival of patrol cars, in addition to stealing a Galil rifle from the National Police and a pistol from an officer who was taken hostage to prevent other police officers from reacting.
On February 26 of this year, a similar operation had targeted the Banco Sudameris branch in Naranjal, about 40 kilometers south of Santa Rita. Between 15 and 20 heavily armed men blocked the entrances, detonated three explosive charges against the vault, and fled toward Caazapá, although the banknote dye system had been activated. Before that, on November 20, 2024, a gang of about 10 criminals had already attacked the Bancoop branch in the same location, destroying the vault in five minutes and making off with approximately 2.8 billion guaranís.
The historic heist against the cash-in-transit company Prosegur in Ciudad del Este, on April 24, 2017, is considered one of the most aggressive ever recorded in the country. A group of about 50 men, armed with military rifles, anti-aircraft machine guns, and high-powered explosives such as C4, set fire to more than ten vehicles to block bridges and access roads, destroyed the building's façade, and made off with 11.7 million dollars. Investigations in Brazil, which resulted in convictions, pointed to the involvement of the criminal organization Primeiro Comando da Capital, classified as terrorist by the United States.
Despite the succession of attacks across different government administrations, authorities have yet to contain the actions of these organizations, which continue to use sophisticated tactics, planned escape routes, and heavy firepower to overpower local security forces.