Brazilian Commission Approves Donation of Helicopters to Paraguay for Border Surveillance

The Finance and Taxation Commission of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved a project by Lula da Silva’s government that authorizes the donation of two helicopters from the Brazilian Federal Police to Paraguay.

This with the aim of intensifying surveillance on the border between both countries.

The aircraft will be used in actions to prevent and repress cross-border crimes and they are model 412 Classic, manufactured by Bell Aircraft Corporation. The helicopters will be donated in their current state of conservation and the Federal Police will be responsible for covering the costs of the Brasilia-Foz de Yguazú route, where the transfer to Paraguay will take place.

The commission’s rapporteur, deputy Paulo Guedes, stated that the measure will cost the public coffers 103,600 reais, reporting that the resources will come from the budget. With this donation, it is expected the possibility of contributing to expanding the operational capacity of Paraguay in the work of inspection of its borders and, consequently, increasing effectiveness in the fight against transnational organized crime.

In line with the alliances between Paraguay and Brazil, last Friday the Asunción Commitment against Corruption, Organized Crime and Money Laundering was signed. In this way, a roadmap was marked against each of the aforementioned scourges, assuming in turn a commitment that will promote the exchange of information between both nations, joint investigations, tactical and logistical support to fight on a large scale and jointly. .

Regarding the mechanisms to combat transnational crimes, the President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, had announced his decision to suspend the importation of weapons as one of the main measures to confront the insecurity that hits the border areas, mainly in the areas shared with Brazil.