Lawyer Zully Graciela Rolón assumed the duties of minister of the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish), on February 2, 2021. She is the first woman to lead the fight against narcotrafficking in the country.
A specialist in Criminal Law and a graduate in Political Science and Accounting, Rolón was already SENAD’s interim deputy secretary.
“It is a great challenge and an honor to lead this Secretariat. I consider [the appointment] very important because I am a woman, but I also believe that, as a person, I feel very qualified for the position,” Rolón said in an interview with the Paraguayan radio PDS.
One of the priorities of this new tenure will be to strengthen the agents’ career. The first step was taken in December 2020, when the law creating the special agent career was enacted.
“We want an Anti-Drug Secretariat with trained, upright professionals, who also have their own personal development,” the minister said. “Narcotrafficking permeates all states, so the ideal would be for them [agents] to feel stronger and competent.”
Rolón said that she will continue with strategic action to seize drugs and, above all, weaken organized crime’s financial structure.
She also stressed her intention to acquire scanners and other technological devices to combat cocaine distribution.
“These teams will help all the other security forces, because we need to strengthen not only our borders, but also our internal security,” the minister told radio 780 AM.
On February 10, Minister Rolón met with Brazilian Ambassador Flávio Soares Damico and Brazilian Federal Police Attaché Richard Murad.
“We seek to strengthen ties and reinforce cooperation as we look forward to continuing to work together against organized crime,” the SENAD said in a statement.
