Man dead in raid in José Pedro Varela: Police investigate use of force
A 63-year-old man died during an anti-drugs operation in José Pedro Varela. Internal Affairs is investigating whether the procedure was correct.
Death in raid: Internal Affairs examines whether procedure complied with law
The National Directorate of Internal Affairs opened an internal investigation following the death of a 63-year-old man during a raid in José Pedro Varela, Lavalleja department, according to subrayado.com.uy. The inquiry seeks to determine whether the use of force by police officers complied with the law or whether any irregularities occurred.
The investigation is being conducted under the supervision of second shift prosecutor Marlene Canosa. Investigators made available to the courts body camera footage used during the raids, though the images remain under seal.
The operation was carried out Thursday morning as part of an investigation into drug trafficking and illegal use of firearms. The Anti-Drug Brigade, together with officers from the Tactical Reserve Group (GRT) from Treinta y Tres and Maldonado, executed three raids on residences located on Podestá, Flores and Río Negro streets.
The man who died was in one of those residences. The police department reported that they seized a pointed rod measuring 50 centimetres. In the other two properties raided, cocaine was seized, along with a precision scale, ten mobile phones, a firearm and ammunition.
The raids aimed to dismantle two criminal groups vying for control of the city and linked to drug trafficking and illegal use of weapons. According to police, clashes between the two gangs left several civilians and a police officer from Minas injured, and they are also blamed for setting fire to a residence, among other criminal acts.
Source: Google News UY — Crime