The Triple Frontier: Triads, Hezbollah and Narco Heavies

The Triple Frontier: Triads, Hezbollah and Narco Heavies

From The Underworld Podcast by The Underworld Podcast

April 21, 2026 · 58 min

About this episode

This episode explores the rise of narco trafficking in Paraguay and the involvement of international crime syndicates in the region.

When Paraguay extradited French-Corsican heroin kingpin Auguste Ricord to the US in 1972, some thought Paraguay’s narco trafficking days might be numbered. If anything they were just beginning. Within years the tiny nation had welcomed Hong Kong Triads and Lebanese militants — who, combined with considerable homegrown narco and cigarette trafficking, made Paraguay one of the world’s most lawless places, a hive of narco-contraband-terror madness. This nexus was focused not on the country’s sleepy capital city Asunción, but the so-called “Triple Frontier”, where Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil met. And thanks to a 2018 conspiracy involving a local trafficker, a money mule and an up-and-coming senator, we know it’s very much alive and kicking today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: The Underworld Podcast

Topics covered

  • narco trafficking
  • organized crime
  • Paraguay
  • Triple Frontier
  • drug trade
  • history
  • terrorism

Keywords

  • Paraguay
  • Triads
  • Hezbollah
  • narco trafficking
  • Triple Frontier
  • drug trade
  • August Ricord
  • organized crime
  • terrorism

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hong Kong Triads, Hezbollah

Places: Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, Triple Frontier, Asunción

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