A group of five or six armed men exchanged gunfire with police officers. Paraguayan National Police, in the early hours of this Tuesday (18), in the center of Ciudad del Este. The incident occurred around 3:50 am, a time with few people circulating.
Read also
Friendship Bridge: Motorcyclists protest blocks traffic at the border
According to the newspapers La Nación e Last Minute, the individuals attempted to break down the metal door of a commercial establishment. However, police officers who were on routine patrol noticed the abnormal movement and thwarted the action.
NOW 🔴 Persecution and confrontation against 5 criminals foils a robbery at a business in Ciudad del Este.
– Monumental AM 1080 (@AM_1080) February 18, 2025
👉🏼 The robbers abandoned one of their vehicles behind the balacera and escaped on foot in the San Rafael neighborhood.
🟠 Subscribe to our YouTube channel:… pic.twitter.com/BdzUkDFTCM
“These individuals were heavily armed, with long guns and pistols. In addition, they were wearing bulletproof vests,” said Francisco Rolón, head of the Prime Commissioner (1st Police District) of the Paraguayan National Police in Ciudad del Este.
According to Rolón, the individuals responded to the police approach by shooting. “The chase reached the San Rafael neighborhood, where the streets are difficult to navigate. After entering a residence near the Paraná River, they managed to escape,” he explained.
Of the police officers who participated in the chase, none were injured. On the fugitives' side, there is no confirmation that they all escaped unharmed.
The Paraguayan National Police will request images from nearby cameras in Ciudad del Este to try to identify the individuals. However, the use of hoods will make their work more difficult.
The target of the bandits' action was a store that supposedly contained high-value goods intended for import trade across the border.
Police reinforcement in Ciudad del Este
At the end of January, the Paraguayan National Police announced reinforcement in the patrolling of the central area of Ciudad del Este. Monitoring takes place not only during business hours, but also at night and during the early morning hours.
Paraguayan business entities have repeatedly demanded an increase in the presence of police officers around the Friendship Bridge. In addition, the requests include escorting convoys bringing goods into the city, due to cases of robberies on the highways.
Comments are closed.