Smuggling is serious business along South America’s Triple Border

Americas Now

It’s the place where three South American borders meet and where security often falls through the gap. Correspondent Joel Richards explores the challenges Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil face in keeping drugs, arms and illegal business away from their shared Border.

The natural border that forms on the Parana and Iguazu Rivers in South America is known as the Triple Border. To the west lies Paraguay and to the east, Brazil and Argentina. It is a region known for its natural beauty and its tourist attractions, like Iguazu Falls the largest system of waterfalls in the world.

But the area is also renowned for illicit activity. The porous border has given rise to arms and drug trafficking with contraband estimated to be in the billions of dollars per year.

Americas Now correspondent Joel Richards travelled to the Triple Border to see how authorities patrol this complex frontier.

Smuggling is serious business along South America’s Triple Border

It's the place where three South American borders meet and where security often falls through the gap. Correspondent Joel Richards explores the challenges Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil face in keeping drugs, arms and illegal business away from their shared Border. The natural border that forms on the Parana and Iguazu Rivers in South America is known as the Triple Border. To the west lies Paraguay and to the east, Brazil and Argentina. It is a region known for its natural beauty and its tourist attractions, like Iguazu Falls the largest system of waterfalls in the world. But the area is also renowned for illicit activity. The porous border has given rise to arms and drug trafficking with contraband estimated to be in the billions of dollars per year. Americas Now correspondent Joel Richards travelled to the Triple Border to see how authorities patrol this complex frontier.