HomeNewsBriefSinaloa Cartel's Argentina Operation and the Police
BRIEF

Sinaloa Cartel's Argentina Operation and the Police

ARGENTINA / 27 MAY 2014 BY CHARLES PARKINSON EN

Three Argentina police officers arrested for their part in a cocaine trafficking ring linked to the Sinaloa Cartel were involved in a wide range of serious crimes, highlighting how corrupt law enforcement facilitates organized crime throughout the region and also has its own operations.

According to a report from La Nacion, federal police deputy Roberto Mora and sub-officials Natalia Cainzos and Andres Martinez participated in a range of crimes, including staging false raids to steal drug consignments that they subsequently re-sold, robbing houses and obtaining illegal weapons.

The three were part of organization that was recently arrested exporting 2,000 liters of liquid cocaine to Mexico. The three were reported to be involved in the trafficking of both drugs and precursor chemicals, and carrying out at least one house robbery with an alleged Colombian criminal.

SEE ALSO: Coverage of Argentina

Raids on properties related to the three officials saw Argentine authorities seize guns and ammunition, 267 grams of cocaine reportedly intended for sale, and almost $200,000 in different currencies.

In placing the three under preventative detention, a judge described Mora as the boss of the "sophisticated" organization. The other two were members of the group.

InSight Crime Analysis

Based on the reports into the group's activity, it appears that the three officers' involvement with the Sinaloa Cartel-funded cocaine ring was just one aspect of their criminal activities.

Whether it was already engaged in such crime before it became involved in the cocaine trafficking operation, or expanded its criminal portfolio subsequently as yet remains unclear.

Police corruption in Argentina is a significant problem, especially in key drug trafficking areas such as Rosario and Cordoba. The problem may well get worse as well-funded foreign criminal groups increase their interest in the country's drug trade.

Police throughout the region form the core of many criminal organizations. From Mexico to Colombia to Brazil, they engage in extortion, kidnapping, theft and resale, and a host of other criminal activities.

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.

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

COCAINE / 22 FEB 2023

The conviction of Genaro García Luna is a big victory for US law enforcement institutions. But problems remain in the…

CHAPITOS / 18 AUG 2022

Mexico saw outbreaks of violence last week in three different states. What can these events tell us about the country's…

HUMAN RIGHTS / 28 JAN 2022

A number of media workers in Mexico have been shot and killed, stabbed to death and ambushed in armed attacks…

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela Coverage Continues to be Highlighted

3 MAR 2023

This week, InSight Crime co-director Jeremy McDermott was the featured guest on the Americas Quarterly podcast, where he provided an expert overview of the changing dynamics…

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela's Organized Crime Top 10 Attracts Attention

24 FEB 2023

Last week, InSight Crime published its ranking of Venezuela’s ten organized crime groups to accompany the launch of the Venezuela Organized Crime Observatory. Read…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime on El País Podcast

10 FEB 2023

This week, InSight Crime co-founder, Jeremy McDermott, was among experts featured in an El País podcast on the progress of Colombia’s nascent peace process.

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Interviewed by Associated Press

3 FEB 2023

This week, InSight Crime’s Co-director Jeremy McDermott was interviewed by the Associated Press on developments in Haiti as the country continues its prolonged collapse. McDermott’s words were republished around the world,…

THE ORGANIZATION

Escaping Barrio 18

27 JAN 2023

Last week, InSight Crime published an investigation charting the story of Desafío, a 28-year-old Barrio 18 gang member who is desperate to escape gang life. But there’s one problem: he’s…