Paraguayan pig producers denounce pork smuggling from Brazil

The Paraguayan Association of Pig Producers (APPC) has filed formal criminal complaints with the National Directorate of Tax Revenues (DNIT) and the Public Ministry regarding the alleged smuggling of live pigs, pork meat, and derivatives from Brazil.

Producers claim the goods enter Paraguay without customs, tax, or sanitary documentation, primarily through the Alto Paraná, Canindeyú, and Amambay regions. The APPC reports that this illegal influx has caused severe market distortions, driving producer prices down from approximately G. 11,500 per kilo in January to less than G. 8,000 per kilo. This drop leaves many small and medium-sized farmers with little to no profitability, leading to farm closures and job losses.

On the day the complaints were filed, authorities intercepted two irregular shipments. In Ciudad del Este, 40 live pigs were seized without transit guides, resulting in an estimated loss of G. 600 million for the smugglers. Another shipment was seized in Saltos del Guairá. The APPC is requesting detailed inspection reports and the preservation of surveillance footage from strategic border posts to identify those responsible for the smuggling operations.