# National Police of Paraguay

The National Police of Paraguay (Spanish: Policía Nacional del Paraguay, PNP) is the main law-enforcement agency in Paraguay, operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It is responsible for ensuring the internal security of the nation.

## History

The first Paraguayan Police force was established in 1843, then known as the Asunción Police Department under the leadership of Pedro Nolazco Fernández. In 1992, Paraguay's government ratified a new constitution, which put policing duties under the newly formed National Police (Policia Nacional), which came under the interior ministry. In 2010, the PNP established a new aviation unit, called the Unidad de aviación (Aviation Unit), which operates helicopters to support of policing operations in the air.
In August 2023, Distributed Denial of Secrets published over 500,000 documents and other files from the National Police of Paraguay.

## Mission

The PNP is an institution with permanent high precedence in the constitution, with the mission of protecting life, preserving public order, and security and integrity of people. It is designed to guarantee individual and social development, as well as the achievement of the harmonious coexistence of the inhabitants of Paraguay, through the execution of coordinated, efficient and transparent actions.

## Organization

The National Police is directed by the General Commissioner Director, assisted by the deputy General Commissioner Director for the General Directorates. It is composed of many training institutions, armed units, and general directorates, all under the auspices of the police command headquarters in the capital.

### Training institutes

* Asuncion Police Academy
* General José Eduvigis Díaz Police Academy
* Sergeant Assistant José Merlo Sarabia Police College
* Remberto Giménez Apprentice School
* School of Physical Education
* Institute of Criminalistics

### Improvement institutes

* School of Police Strategy
* School of Chiefs and Police Advice
* School of Professional Specialization
* School of Application for NCOs

### General Directorates

* General Directorate of Human Talent
* General Directorate of Prevention and Security
* General Directorate of Criminal Investigation
* General Directorate of Police Intelligence
* General Directorate of the Higher Institute of Police Education
* General Directorate of Police Justice
* General Directorate of Administration and Finance
* General Directorate of Police Health

### Technical Support Directorates

* Crime investigation Department
* Economic Department
* Anti-narcotics Department
* Department of Communications
* Automotive Control Department
* IT Department
* Department of Identifications
* Judicial Department
* Department of Family
* Legal Assistance Department
* Anti-kidnapping Department
* Intelligence Department
* Anti-terrorism Department

### Tactical Support Directorate

* Specialized Group
* Special Police Operations Forces (FOPE Group)
* Security Group
* Traffic Group
* Ecological and Rural Group
* Airport Group
* Anti-rustling group
* Fire Brigade
* Mounted Group
* Motorized Group
* PNP Aviation Unit
* Tourism Police Division
* Department of Forestry and Environmental Affairs
* Security of Educational Centers

### Police stations

PNP police stations are police bodies, subordinated to the Departmental Police Headquarters, which are within the limits of a particular zone and executes the activities of the National Police in their particular cities.

## Aviation Unit

The unit's current inventory includes the following:
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | In service |
| Bell UH-1 Iroquois | United States | policing | 4 |
| CASA C-212 Aviocar | Spain | transport | 1 |
| Robinson R44 | United States | policing | 1 |
| Mil Mi-8 | Russia | policing | 1 |
All helicopters of the PNP Aviation Unit are based at the Helipuerto Polica Nacional in Asuncion. The Silvio Pettirossi International Airport was initially used by PNP Aviation Unit, but later moved to Helipuerto Polica Nacional, which opened in August 2010.