News Forum

From: Foreign Affairs

Paraguay’s Tobacco Business Fuels Latin America’s Black Market

By Benoît Gomis and Natalia Carrillo Botero

As a small country of 6.9 million inhabitants, Paraguay rarely draws international attention. Unlike some of its neighbors, it does not face debilitating violence, nor is it overwhelmed by paramilitary or gang activity. In fact, Paraguay has enjoyed economic growth in recent years. But beyond its apparent normalcy, the nation is grappling with pervasive corruption and organized crime.