On Wednesday morning, six Brazilian citizens were detained in Coronel Oviedo, in the department of Caaguazú, after complaints from traders and food court workers at Municipal Market No. 1. The foreigners were accused of acting insistently and arrogantly while offering sweets to customers, especially during breakfast and lunch hours.
Those detained were identified as Reinalda Maliaquias Da Silva, Divina Souza Mora, Aliru Aus Da Silva, Paulo Alves Malaquias, Thainara Alves Da Silva, and Maihara Soa Da Silva, the latter accompanied by a 2-year-old child. According to the police report, none of them had a migration admission card, indicating an irregular status in the country.
The operation was carried out around 9:40 a.m. on 14 de Mayo and Padre Molas streets by officers from the 31st Police Station in the Azucena neighborhood, following several formal complaints from market workers. During the procedure, a cup containing “Freegels” candies, the product the Brazilians were offering to customers, was seized.
According to the traders' accounts, the foreigners frequented the food court area and constantly insisted that diners buy the sweets. When questioned about their approach, they reacted arrogantly toward both customers and workers at the location.
The case was reported to the Public Prosecutor's Office and the National Directorate of Migration for appropriate procedures.