The false “shopping guides” operate with impunity throughout the downtown area of Esteño, including on the Friendship Bridge itself.
The commune of Ciudad del Este announced a prevention operation, scheduled for today, Saturday (02), in the micro-mall, against the false “shopping guides” who provide information to tourists, so that they are not deceived by the so-called “ “piranitas.”
These are criminals who act as “store promoters” to direct (often through deception and pressure) visitors in certain sectors to be scammed, extorted, assaulted and even kidnapped.
“No more pirañitas” is the slogan of the operation announced by the local Municipality and which will take place today, Saturday, in the downtown area of Ciudad del Este, with the participation of 400 municipal officials from different areas.
The campaign will consist of providing information to tourists through flyers so as not to be fooled by “piranitas”, a name given to criminals who pretend to be a “shopping guide” to lead visitors to certain sectors to fleece them.
“Alert dear tourists. There are no shopping guides in Paraguay” is the message that will be given to visitors with information on the contacts of the Tourist Police and the Consumer Defense Directorate for any eventuality.
The operation will be launched by Mayor Miguel Prieto Vallejos (Indep.) and the delegation of 400 officials will gather at 7:00 in the Municipality, from where they will be deployed to various points in the downtown area of Esteño with the accompaniment of the directors of the areas of Order and Security, Municipal Traffic Police, Consumer Defense and Tourist Police.
Criminal schemes
For some years now, criminal schemes have been operating in the downtown area of Esteño to loot foreign tourists. The “piranitas” play a fundamental role in the crime, since they are in charge of recruiting potential victims on public roads.
Then, tourists are taken to certain makeshift stores where they are scammed, extorted, assaulted and even kidnapped by criminal groups.
These attacks on tourists are frequent. From time to time the authorities involved in security meet to address the problem, but without adopting effective measures to provide security to visitors.