The Paraguayan Air Force intercepted a light Bolivian Cessna 206 aircraft, suspected of transporting cocaine, in an operation involving a Tucano and an A-29 Super Tucano.
Footage of the air chase was released by the channel ABC TV Paraguay.
According to preliminary information, the incident began around 11:00 local time when the Paraguayan military detected an aircraft classified as “irregular” in the north of the country. Later identification revealed that it was a Cessna 206 with the Bolivian registration CP-2088, registered in the department of Concepción. The first detection occurred near Paso Bravo National Park.
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In a statement to the press, the commander of the Paraguayan Air Force, General Julio Fuyabondo, explained that the initial phase involved a discreet escort and a surprise ground operation supported by a helicopter at the potential landing site. However, as the aircraft approached within approximately 40 km of the Brazilian border, an active intercept was authorized to force a landing.
Once identified, the Cessna pilots were ordered to communicate and land, which were ignored. The crews of the Tucano and Super Tucano therefore fired warning shots, in accordance with Paraguayan law.
According to the command, the plane landed near the border town of Capitán Bado, where two vehicles approached. After more warning shots, the trucks left the area and the Cessna remained on the ground for about a minute and a half before taking off again — allegedly without time to unload its cargo.
However, footage released by local residents indicates that unloading may have occurred before it took off again, suggesting that smugglers managed to remove the illegal cargo.
After taking off again, the aircraft was escorted by a pair of Tucano and Super Tucano until it left Paraguayan airspace towards Bolivia. The total duration of the operation, according to the command, was from 3.5 to 4 hours. Paraguay notified the Bolivian Air Force and provided target coordinates upon entry into Bolivian airspace. Further investigation into the registration of CP-2088 fell to the Bolivian authorities.
Although the distance between the landing site and the Bolivian border appears to exceed the standard range of a Cessna 206, the commander explained that smugglers often install improvised internal fuel tanks, significantly increasing the range of these planes.
The Paraguayan Armed Forces stressed that the increase in the detection of drug-related flights is due to the use of air surveillance radars. With the delivery of new systems from the United States, interception effectiveness is expected to further increase. Under national law, the use of lethal force is limited to self-defense or neutralizing an immediate threat to third parties, and in principle only warning shots are allowed.
In November 2024, the Government of Paraguay obtained financing from BNDES for the purchase of six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft manufactured by Embraer. Light attack aircraft are mainly used to fight drug cartels, intercept smuggling planes and support ground troops. Paraguay took delivery of the first batch A-29 at the end of June 2025
Super Tucano chases suspected drug-trafficking aircraft for nearly 4 hours in Paraguay
The Paraguayan Air Force intercepted a light Bolivian Cessna 206 aircraft suspected of transporting cocaine, in an operation involving a Tucano and an A-29 Tucano
Source: ABC TV Paraguay pic.twitter.com/MDhLgWVHBB— saibadetudo.com.br (@saibadetudo25) February 8, 2026
Source and photos: Embraer | ABC TV Paraguay. The content was prepared with the help of AI and verified by the editorial team.
