Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – published Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 14:53 / Updated Tuesday, May 13, 2025 14:53
Former central defender Julio Manzur (44) was arrested in Paraguay, after being caught with six kilograms of cocaine. He is suspected of being the leader of a drug trafficking organization.
Manzur, who was champions with Santos in 2006, was arrested on Wednesday, along with two other men, during a police operation in Luque. Paraguay police announced that Manzur's car, a firearm and six mobile phones, have been confiscated.
The drugs were found in Manzur's car and were to be sold in the Jkua Duré, Sportal.blic.rs. The former player supported the police station that he only acted as a driver for the other two men.
Julio Manzur claims that he is innocent: “We do not carry drugs”
Julio Manzur, arrested for drug trafficking
“They told me they would carry some documents and led them. I did not carry drugs in my truck, I do not know where they found them. I had just left with my parents at my son's school and then they called them to that house.”
Manzur would be the leader of a drug trafficking organization operating in AsiCiuón, according to Cesar Diarte, the head of the Paraguay narcotics combating department.
The former player would also be responsible for the transport of drugs from the north of the country to the central area and would have had a “quite exclusive clientele”. Julio César Manzur, 43, played for Santos in 2006, borrowed from Guaraní, and became a champion.
He also played for teams such as Libertad, Olimpia, Pachuca and Tigre, and was a vice -champion at the 2004 Athens Olympics with the Paraguay national.
