Ciudad del Este police arrest three after shootout and chase

A police pursuit and shootout in Ciudad del Este, Alto Paraná, resulted in the arrest of three individuals and the seizure of an arsenal of weapons. The incident began early Friday morning when investigators spotted a white vehicle without license plates traveling at high speeds.

During the chase, suspects fired at officers, who returned fire. The pursuit ended when the vehicle crashed into a tree in the Che la Reina neighborhood. While two suspects managed to flee on foot, three people—including a 15-year-old—were apprehended. Two of the detainees sustained gunshot wounds and were hospitalized.

Police recovered rifles, two revolvers, balaclavas, cell phones, and camouflage clothing from the vehicle. According to Commissioner Javier Maldonado, the group appears to have been planning a targeted robbery, possibly against a money changer, as investigators found a floor plan of a residence among the evidence.