A former Argentine senator was sentenced by a Paraguayan court on Monday to two years in prison for smuggling cash illegally after attempting to enter the country from Argentina with US$211,000 in undeclared cash, judicial sources confirmed.
Edgardo Kueider's arrest in Paraguay in December 2024 led to his expulsion from the Senate, where he represented northern Misiones Province.
The domestic courts are currently considering an extradition request in connection with separate criminal cases pending in Argentina, where he is accused of alleged illicit enrichment and accepting bribes.
Kueider's secretary, Iara Guinsel – who was detained alongside the then senator at a border crossing – was sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison.
Both sentences were suspended, allowing the pair to serve them under electronic monitoring, according to the ruling issued by Paraguay’s Specialised Court for Economic Crimes.
Kueider and Guinsel have already spent one year and eight months under house arrest. As a result, they have four months and two months, respectively, remaining to complete their sentences.
The judges noted that the pair had entered Paraguay on five previous occasions and were aware of the legal requirement to declare sums exceeding US$10,000.
“When an individual brings foreign currency into the country without making the corresponding declaration, they not only fail to comply with an administrative obligation, but also introduce goods into the customs territory outside the legally established procedure,” the ruling stated.
Cases pending against the former Peronist lawmaker are being heard in the provinces of Entre Ríos and Buenos Aires.
Speaking to local media, Kueider said he would appeal the Paraguayan conviction.
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