# Cross-border organized crime in South America

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cross-border-organized-crime-in-south-america
> Updated: 2026-10-20T10:48:32.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

Violent incidents involving armed groups have been reported in the border regions of Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. 

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, a 26-year-old Paraguayan national was killed in a shooting in González Catán. Police described the incident as a possible assassination involving assailants wearing bulletproof vests and carrying rifles and pistols. Investigators suggested the violence might be linked to disputes between drug traffickers.

In Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay, a tactical group of at least ten men executed a 27-year-old Brazilian woman and kidnapped her partner. The victim, Marcelo Juan Ortiz Moura, was later found dead in Cerro Corá'i. Authorities noted that Ortiz Moura was a fugitive from the Brazilian justice system wanted for a 2020 drug trafficking case involving 815 kg of marijuana.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-20: Armed group executes Brazilian woman and kidnaps man in Paraguay

A tactical group of armed men killed Brazilian woman Carolina Benites Arce and kidnapped her partner, a fugitive from Brazil, in Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay. The man's body was later found dead.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/armed-group-executes-brazilian-woman-and-kidnaps-man-in-paraguay

### 2026-10-16: Paraguayan national killed in Buenos Aires shooting

A Paraguayan man was killed and an Argentine national also died during a shooting in González Catán, Buenos Aires, suspected to be related to drug trafficking disputes.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/paraguayan-national-killed-in-buenos-aires-shooting

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Cite as: Cross-border organized crime in South America. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cross-border-organized-crime-in-south-america