Federal Police seize 52 kg of pure MDMA in Zárate: Argentina's largest drug seizure on record
The Federal Police seized 52 kilogrammes of maximum-purity MDMA hidden in a vehicle at Zárate Terminal, Argentina's largest seizure of synthetic drugs. Three arrested and an international arrest warrant issued.
Historic ecstasy seizure at Zárate Terminal: 52 kilogrammes and three arrested
The Federal Police of Argentina (PFA) seized 52 kilogrammes of maximum-purity MDMA hidden in various compartments of a vehicle found at Zárate Terminal in Buenos Aires province, according to baenegocios.com. The operation, coordinated between the National Security Ministry and the United States DEA, constitutes the largest seizure of synthetic drugs recorded in the country's history.
With that quantity of substance, approximately one million ecstasy tablets could have been produced.
Investigation origins and cargo detection
The investigation began in March of this year based on information supplied by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which alerted authorities to the operations of a transnational criminal organisation attempting to introduce large volumes of synthetic drugs into Argentina.
The operation was carried out by the Federal Investigative Department (DFI) of the PFA, through the Federal Operations Division of the Superintendency for Investigations against Drug Trafficking, in coordination with the General Directorate of Customs of the Agency for Tax Collection and Customs Control (ARCA).
With the involvement of the National Court for Economic Criminal Matters No. 2, the National Prosecution for Economic Criminal Matters No. 3 and the Narco-Crime Prosecution Office (PROCUNAR), specialised personnel from the PFA and Customs inspected the vehicle using non-intrusive technology. The equipment detected anomalous densities in internal cavities that did not correspond with the vehicle's original structure, which led to a thorough search.
Findings in stages: 20 and then 32 additional kilogrammes
During the inspection, 20 kilogrammes of a solid, granulated and crystalline substance were initially found. Analysis returned a positive result for MDMA. Upon dismantling other sections of the vehicle, 32 additional kilogrammes were found, reaching a total of 52 kilogrammes. Subsequent analysis confirmed that the substance was in a state of maximum purity.
Three arrested and an international arrest warrant
As a result of the proceedings, a Mexican citizen, a Venezuelan and an Argentine were arrested. According to the investigation, one of them had entered the country specifically to participate in receiving the vehicle, while the others performed functions linked to the organisation's logistics.
In parallel, raids were carried out at residences in Buenos Aires city and Salta province. During these procedures, mobile phones, documentation and other items were seized, which will be subject to examination.
The court also issued an international arrest warrant against another Mexican citizen, identified for his participation in coordinating the removal and transport of the vehicle.
Transnational network and support from international bodies
The investigation progressed across the various levels of the criminal structure involved in the operation. The operation had the backing of the Regional Centre for Information and Analysis on Organised Crime (CRIACO), an initiative supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the United States Embassy.
These capabilities included training in synthetic drug detection and cargo control, as well as strategic analysis of trafficking routes for ecstasy-type substances from Europe to the Southern Cone and transnational criminal dynamics.
Source: Google News AR — Crime