Outrage in Paraguay after Brazil cartel boss kills woman in his prison cell

Outrage in Paraguay after Brazil cartel boss kills woman in his prison cell
Marcelo Pinheiro’s murder of Lidia Meza, 18, in an apparent attempt to avoid extradition, highlights a culture of impunity
Laurence Blair in Rio de Janeiro
Thu 22 Nov 2018 04.16 EST

Paraguayans have been left shocked and outraged after a jailed cartel boss murdered a young woman inside his high-security cell, in an apparent attempt to avoid extradition to neighbouring Brazil.

The case has underscored the scale of criminal impunity in the landlocked South American country – and fuelled fears of more violence to come.

Marcelo “Piloto” Pinheiro was seized in a joint operation by Brazilian, Paraguayan and US anti-drug authorities in December. A leading figure in Rio de Janeiro’s sprawling criminal group Comando Vermelho (Red Command), he had been on the run from Brazilian authorities and operating from Paraguay since 2012.

. . .

After his capture, Pinheiro sought to implicate a web of politicians, judges and police and admitted that he hoped to stay in a Paraguayan jail – which are notorious for offering luxury “VIP cells” in exchange for bribes – rather than face tough justice in Brazil. “Paraguay is the country of impunity and corruption,” he told reporters.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/22/paraguay-murder-brazil-cartel-boss-marcelo-pinheiro-piloto

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https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016220728