Drug gang dismantled in northern greater Buenos Aires: 10 arrested and 11 kilos of cocaine seized
Buenos Aires Provincial Police conducted 30 simultaneous raids and dismantled a criminal organisation in San Martín and Buenos Aires city. They seized drugs, 19 vehicles and more than 92 million pesos.
Operation in northern greater Buenos Aires yields 10 arrests and substantial seizures
Buenos Aires Provincial Police dismantled a drug trafficking gang operating in the northern greater Buenos Aires area and Buenos Aires city, according to infobae.com. The operation resulted in the detention of ten people, including the leaders of the organisation.
As part of the investigation, security forces executed 30 search warrants simultaneously. The procedure made it possible to seize 11 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, 500 grams of marijuana of various strains, 19 vehicles, firearms, cash and numerous logistical items linked to the network. The case is being handled by the Federal Court of Tres de Febrero, under the responsibility of judge Juan Manuel Culotta, with the Secretariat No. 7 under the direction of Gregorio Rueda.
The seized cocaine was divided into different batches: seven packages with the "Lacoste" seal weighing 7.5 kilograms in total, one package marked with the Louis Vuitton insignia weighing 1.5 kilograms, and compact stone chunks totalling two additional kilograms. The marijuana, meanwhile, was distributed in jars with buds of varieties such as Fuji Juice, AK47, Gkw, Strawberry, Moby Dick, Melonia and Tropical Fruit, totalling half a kilogram in all. Nine precision scales were also found.
The cash seized amounted to $92,430,200 and USD 21,550, along with three banknote counting machines and four safes. Regarding firearms, one Bersa Thunder pistol calibre 9 mm with three magazines, one calibre 22 revolver and 207 calibre 9 mm rounds were confiscated. The operation also yielded 29 mobile telephones, five laptop computers, four USB drives and two vehicle registration documents. Among the vehicles seized were models including Jeep Compass, VW Taos, Ford Ranger, VW Amarok, Toyota Corolla, Peugeot 2008 and Fiat 500.
The leader: Chamut ran the gang even from prison
The investigation began in March 2026 after detecting a criminal structure led by Martín Alejandro Chamut, 52 years old, identified by security forces as a drug trafficker with a history in the San Martín district. Investigators established that Chamut had continued running the organisation whilst serving a previous detention and, upon regaining his freedom, personally resumed management of larger volume transactions.
The main distribution territory covered San Martín, the North Zone of greater Buenos Aires and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. According to what was reconstructed during the investigation, buyers handed over money in Villa Corea, whilst the collection of the substance took place in Villa Ballester using bags, backpacks and specially adapted vehicles.
Chamut had two trusted collaborators. Gustavo Ariel Etchart, 43 years old, supplied the North Zone—Pilar, Tigre, San Isidro and Vicente López—and chaired a finance company alongside his niece Oriana Ailén Etchart Torres, a structure used for money laundering and currency exchange. The other key operator was Facundo Leonardo Romero, responsible for supplying more than ten sales points in Villa Corea and several bunkers in Villa Hidalgo and Villa Carcova.
Upon his release, Chamut resumed control of the largest distribution bunkers, located in the settlements "9 de Julio", "El 18 (Mameluco)", "Sarmiento", "Pegamil" and "Loyola". The investigation also identified the main drug supplier, based in Pilar and with businesses in Tres de Febrero and Ingeniero Budge.
Network of commercial fronts to launder money
To conceal the flow of capital, the organisation relied on a network of finance companies, car dealerships and vehicle wash facilities as commercial fronts. It also had parking facilities, offices and apartments distributed across San Martín, Nordelta, San Isidro, Vicente López and Pilar, where it stored the narcotics.
Telephone wiretaps also revealed that one of the gang members, Alex Uriel Etchart, 25 years old, maintained operational links with an organisation dedicated to armed robberies in the North Zone of greater Buenos Aires.
Prior intelligence: GPS, drones and 230 hours of wiretaps
To reach the raids, security forces deployed extensive intelligence work. The procedure included analysis of surveillance camera footage, placement of GPS Tracker LK 208 trackers on several of the vehicles under investigation, authorised use of drones in hard-to-reach areas and interception of more than 25 telephone lines, with more than 230 hours of wiretaps accumulated. Analysis of antenna data and field surveillance completed the evidence picture that authorised the judicial orders.
The ten arrested
Along with Chamut, Gustavo Etchart, Oriana Etchart Torres, Alex Etchart and Romero, Ricardo Daniel Pérez (40 years old), Marcelo Rodrigo Veriz, Oscar Daniel Agüera (47 years old), Francisco José Chifaldi (30 years old) and Iván Gerometa (26 years old) were arrested.
The ten accused were placed at the disposal of the Federal Court of Tres de Febrero, which is handling the investigation for violations of Law 23,737 on drug trafficking and money laundering.
Source: Google News AR — Buenos Aires