Opposition senator Antonio Rubén Velázquez, vice president of the Paraguayan Senate's Committee to Combat and Prevent Drug Trafficking, stated that the current drug law, dating from 1988, is outdated and that a reform is underway. He said the committee has already held several technical working groups to study changes, including updating penalties and reviewing specific articles.
One point under discussion is the regulation of medicinal cannabis use, which, according to the lawmaker, could bring significant benefits and is being analyzed to facilitate patient treatment. Velázquez also emphasized the importance of addressing addictions not only from a legislative perspective but also with a focus on prevention and rehabilitation, mentioning visits to treatment centers throughout the country.
Another project under review is the implementation of plea bargaining, a mechanism already used in other countries such as Colombia to expedite justice in complex cases. The senator defended the need to strengthen legislation to combat organized crime, which, he said, feeds on drug trafficking and arms trafficking, and cited the presence of transnational factions such as the PCC and Comando Vermelho in Paraguay.
Velázquez expressed concern about the infiltration of organized crime into Paraguayan politics, noting that many drug traffickers are currently candidates for elected office. He criticized the political financing law, which, in his assessment, has failed to prevent funds of dubious origin from financing election campaigns, allowing crime to influence democratic institutions.