Paraguayan prosecutors discovered a high-security vault hidden behind a false wall in the summer residence of former President Santiago Peña, diariolahuella.com reported.
The raid took place on Sunday, November 8, in the Ciervo Cuá area of San Bernardino, roughly 50 kilometers from Asunción. Prosecutors Silvia González, Christian Benítez, and Elena Fiore led the search of the property.
Investigators encountered an armored structure that they could not immediately open due to its complex locking mechanisms. According to investigations published by Paraguayan media, the system features biometric technology, facial or iris recognition, fingerprint scanners, numeric codes, and special keys.
Authorities have not yet officially confirmed the origin of the technology or what the compartment contains. On Monday, the Fiscalía continued working on methods to access the interior.
Officials are weighing several alternatives to open the vault. These options include requesting assistance from technical specialists, reaching out to family members who might hold access authorization, or executing a controlled detonation after technical evaluations.
The residence itself forms a central piece of ongoing financial investigations targeting Peña. Case records show the property was built between 2024 and 2025 at an estimated cost of 7.7 billion guaraníes.
Investigators are scrutinizing two simultaneous loans granted by Ueno Bank in May 2024. Those loans totaled 3.548 billion guaraníes, with monthly payments reaching 239 million guaraníes—an amount equivalent to roughly six times Peña’s presidential salary at the time.
This discovery stems from a broader financial and political crisis that shook Paraguay and culminated in Peña’s removal from office via a political impeachment on November 6. Prosecutors have charged the former president with breach of trust and self-serving administration, allegations that he denies.
As the judicial process moves forward, authorities continue working to unravel the contested financial operations and determine the contents of the vault.
