The minister of the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD), Jalil Rachid, defended the actions of his agents during "Operation Redención" (Redemption), carried out last Friday in Corpus Christi, a district of San Estanislao, also known as Santaní, in the Canindeyú department. The procedure, which involved the Joint Task Force (FTC), resulted in the deaths of two people after an alleged confrontation.
The deceased were identified as Antonio Carrillo Mancuello, a leader of the Y'apo indigenous community, and Catalino Ramón Correa Acevedo, a teacher from the region. Initially presented as logistical pieces of the scheme of drug trafficker Felipe Santiago Acosta, known as "Macho," the deaths were contested by family members and community members, who deny the criminal links and denounce summary executions and prior torture.
In press conferences, Rachid rejected the accusations. He stated that the agents, who had search and seizure orders, were surprised and received gunfire from a vehicle on a rural road. "One of our Special Forces agents received a bullet impact to the chest. Thanks to the ballistic plate, which deflected the projectile, it did not cause him greater damage," he declared. According to the minister, the reaction with the use of lethal force was legitimate self-defense.
Rachid maintained that two 7.62 caliber rifles, restricted for use by security forces, were found with the deceased, and that a third individual, identified as Bruno López, was apprehended with a Mini Uzi submachine gun. Questioned about the victims' professions, he argued that criminal structures seek "legal fronts" for their activities. He also denied that the bodies showed signs of execution at point-blank range, citing a forensic report that would indicate shots from medium to long distance.
The statements by the head of SENAD come amid strong criticism from political and human rights sectors. Senator Éver Villalba accused Interior Minister Enrique Riera and Jalil Rachid of prioritizing "spectacular operations" in search of protagonism, putting lives at risk. "We do not have the death penalty here and Rachid cannot take justice into his own hands," the lawmaker stated, demanding a judicial process if there was evidence against the civilians.
The National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (MNP) issued a statement urging authorities to investigate the deaths under human rights standards. The body argues that the investigation should be conducted by the Specialized Penal Unit for Human Rights of the Public Ministry, to clarify whether there was arbitrary execution or torture.
Amid the controversy, Rachid denied any friction with Interior Minister Enrique Riera, stating that there is coordination and that they are "great friends."