Nineteen Paraguayans, including two minors, were rescued from a system of labor exploitation analogous to slavery in the Brazilian state of Paraná. The operation was carried out by an inter-institutional task force following a complaint made by Paraguay's Department Against Human Trafficking to the Federal Police of Brazil.
According to Subcommissioner José Rolón, of the Department Against Human Trafficking, the victims were recruited in the Alto Paraná region by a compatriot who worked as a taxi driver. The suspect organized the workers' travel to Brazil and later deducted the cost of transportation from their wages.
The workers were taken gradually and remained for four to eight months on the agricultural estate, where they harvested cassava in workdays that started around 3 a.m. and lasted until 7 p.m., without formal contracts or basic labor guarantees.
They lived in subhuman conditions in two residences in the municipality of Tapirá, sleeping on mattresses in poor condition placed directly on the floor and with limited access to food. Rent, water, and electricity were also deducted from their earnings, creating a situation of economic dependency.
Brazil's Labor Prosecution Office (Ministério Público do Trabalho - MPT) also found restrictions on their freedom. The Paraguayans had to inform the recruiter whenever they wanted to leave the housing, and only those considered "trustworthy" had free access to cell phones. After all the deductions, the workers received between 400 and 500 reais per month.
After the rescue, the victims were taken to a temporary shelter and, following court hearings, returned to Paraguay with the financial support of a company.