HomeNewsBriefArgentina Seizes Massive Precursor Shipment Near Bolivia
BRIEF

Argentina Seizes Massive Precursor Shipment Near Bolivia

ARGENTINA / 18 SEP 2013 BY NATALIE SOUTHWICK EN

Authorities in northern Argentina have seized a vehicle transporting 25 tons of precursor chemical sodium carbonate, highlighting the links between one of the region's key precursor producers in Argentina and the cocaine processing hub of Bolivia.

Border guards stationed in San Antonio de los Cobres, Salta province, uncovered the huge consignment after stopping a truck headed towards Bolivia on September 17, reported La Nacion.

This is the second major haul of sodium carbonate -- a controlled substance in Argentina -- discovered at the crossing in less than a month, after border guards intercepted two trucks carrying a total of 40 tons of the chemical in August.

InSight Crime Analysis

Argentina is one of the region's major producers of the precursor chemicals used in cocaine production, as well as one of the continent’s largest domestic drug markets, and a popular departure point for cocaine headed to Europe.

The destination of the chemicals seized in this case was almost certainly Bolivia, where not only is coca produced in the country processed into cocaine, but also coca base flown in from Peru. Once processed, cocaine and cocaine paste are most commonly moved to the large domestic markets and trafficking dispatch points of Argentina and Brazil. 

However, there are signs that processing operations are increasingly taking place within Argentina, including the recent seizure of more than 300 kilos of cocaine and coca base, and large quantities of precursor chemicals at a lab near Rosario.

In moving operations to Argentina, traffickers get closer to the source of chemicals, which would no longer risk being seized at border checkpoints, as well as closer to Argentina's domestic market and international trafficking routes.

The apparent growth in cocaine processing operations is just one more sign of the growing influence of drug trafficking within the country, which in recent years has become a haven for international traffickers and is currently experiencing rising violence linked to criminal disputes over the drug trade.

share icon icon icon

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

What are your thoughts? Click here to send InSight Crime your comments.

We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article.

Tags

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

Related Content

ARGENTINA / 19 NOV 2021

Once the purview of Mexican drug cartels, the production of pro-gang songs that soothe the egos of powerful criminal overlords…

ARGENTINA / 4 OCT 2021

Ariel Máximo Cantero, alias “Guille,” is the leader of Argentina's Monos crime family. While he is facing decades behind bars,…

ARGENTINA / 6 JUL 2022

Tusi, a pink synthetic drug powder, is increasing its share of Latin America's drug markets.

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime's Chemical Precursor Report continues to be a reference in the region

19 MAY 2023

For the second week in a row, our investigation into the flow of precursor chemicals for the manufacture of synthetic drugs in Mexico has been cited by multiple regional media…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime’s Chemical Precursor Report Widely Cited

THE ORGANIZATION / 12 MAY 2023

We are proud to see that our recently published investigation into the supply chain of chemical precursors feeding Mexico’s synthetic drug production has been warmly received.

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime’s Paraguay Election Coverage Draws Attention 

5 MAY 2023

InSight Crime looked at the various anti-organized crime policies proposed by the candidates in Paraguay’s presidential election, which was won on April 30 by Santiago Peña. Our pre-election coverage was cited…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Cited in OAS, CARICOM Reports

28 APR 2023

This week, InSight Crime’s work was cited nine times in a new report by the Organization of American States (OAS) titled “The Impact of Organized Crime on Women,…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Staff Cited as Experts by International Media

21 APR 2023

This week, InSight Crime deputy editor, Juan Diego Posada, was interviewed by the Associated Press about connections between the ex-FARC mafia and Brazilian criminal groups, and…