Paraguay's National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) and the Brazilian Federal Police have launched Operation Nueva Alianza 56, one of the largest bilateral offensives against drug trafficking on their shared border. The operation involves special forces from both countries, aerial support from the Paraguayan Air Force, helicopters from the Brazilian Federal Police, and tactical backing from the Internal Defense Operations Command (CODI).
The actions, which will last for at least two weeks, are focused on the Amambay department. They are based on prior intelligence that identified areas of marijuana cultivation and processing. Ground and air incursions are launching from Pedro Juan Caballero with the aim of destroying illicit crops, narco camps, processing centers, and all logistical infrastructure used by organized crime.
The operation is being monitored by prosecutor Celso Morales from the Paraguayan Public Ministry and is based on the principle of shared responsibility, given that over 80% of the marijuana produced in Paraguay is destined for the illegal Brazilian market. The Nueva Alianza model, which began in August 2023, has already conducted 16 previous editions, resulting in the eradication of plantations and the dismantling of over 1,200 camps, with estimated losses of $1.6 billion for the criminal structures.
According to SENAD, Nueva Alianza is recognized as the world's largest illicit crop eradication operation in terms of the volume of drugs taken out of circulation. The strategic goal is to directly impact the finances of drug trafficking, inflicting significant economic losses on the groups involved in drug production and trafficking in the border region.