A group of about 20 heavily armed men simultaneously attacked four financial institutions in Santa Rita, Alto Paraná department, in the early hours of Tuesday, June 16. The targets were GNB Bank, Banco Familiar, Ueno Bank, and the currency exchange house Santa Rita Cambios.
The criminals used explosives to access the vaults of GNB and Banco Familiar, which were completely emptied. At Ueno Bank, the assailants subdued an employee, but there was no vault on site. At Santa Rita Cambios, an explosive device was found inside the establishment but did not detonate.
During the attack, four police officers patrolling the area were overpowered and disarmed. One officer was stripped of a National Police Galil rifle. The officers reported being cornered and threatened with death. "They trapped us, and there was nothing else to do. They covered everything, and we saw nothing. They used high-caliber weapons," one officer said.
As they fled, the criminals set fire to two vehicles—one at the northern access and another at the southern access of Santa Rita—and scattered caltrops on the roads to hinder pursuit. There was an exchange of gunfire during the incident, and a patrol vehicle was hit by bullets.
National Police Commander César Silguero confirmed that the main theory points to a criminal network made up of Paraguayans and Brazilians. "We know some members have been arrested and others remain in the prison system, but these groups tend to reorganize. There are leaders who finance these kinds of operations," he said. Silguero traveled to Santa Rita to coordinate investigative and preventive actions.
Criminal Investigation Director Marcelino Espinoza reported that investigators strongly suspect the perpetrators of the Santa Rita robbery are the same as those who recently carried out a similar heist in Naranjal. Forensic analyses confirmed the use of high-caliber weapons, including 5.56 and 7.62 caliber projectiles.
Interior Minister Enrique Riera did not rule out the involvement of the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) in the attack. According to Riera, the National Police commander told him the modus operandi was consistent with the PCC's style of operation: "They burned two vehicles during the escape and there were approximately 15 to 20 people," he said in an interview with Monumental 1080 AM radio.
Prosecutor Rocío González, in charge of the investigation, stated that some gang members have already been identified through security cameras. Among the suspects are reportedly two police officers—one active and one former—believed to have been involved in previous attacks. However, the National Police have not officially confirmed the names due to operational confidentiality.
The Deputy Prosecutor's Office of Area X strengthened the investigation by assigning prosecutors Edgar Benítez and María del Carmen Meza to the case. The Public Ministry and National Police are working in coordination with the Tripartite Command and security agencies from Brazil and Argentina to exchange information and attempt to dismantle the organization.
Despite prior intelligence warnings about possible attacks on cash transport companies in the region, security forces were unable to prevent the heist. Commander Silguero acknowledged that the large number of financial institutions in Alto Paraná makes it difficult to maintain permanent coverage of each location. The National Police announced it will hold meetings with the Paraguayan Banks Association (Asoban) to review protection mechanisms for agencies in the region.