Buenos Aires Under Siege: How a Highway Became the Epicenter of Argentina’s Drug Trade
Table of Contents
Argentina’s metropolitan Buenos Aires region is grappling with a surge in drug-related violence, exposing deep fissures between law enforcement agencies and a critical lack of coordinated state intervention. Recent brutal crimes, including a triple homicide and the murder of a Peruvian drug trafficker, have laid bare the extent of the problem and ignited a blame game between city and provincial officials. The crisis centers around the President Perón Highway, identified as a key artery for drug trafficking throughout the AMBA (Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires).
The escalating violence contradicts claims from politicians who have sought to deflect duty for rising crime rates. Accusations fly between Buenos Aires city officials and their provincial counterparts, each pointing fingers at the other. Though, a growing chorus of voices within the security apparatus argues that the core issue is a systemic failure to collaborate and address the problem comprehensively.
The “Accordion” and the Flow of Narcotics
Authorities describe the AMBA as an “accordion,” with millions of people and goods flowing in and out of the city daily. This constant movement provides ample prospect for illicit activity. In February, Metropolitan Police pursuing a vehicle that ran a red light discovered five kilos of cocaine in the trunk in Belgrano. A month prior, a raid on a property in Villa 1.11.14, a notorious shantytown, uncovered a sophisticated drug processing facility. This facility, according to sources, was directly linked to the brutal massacre in Villa Vatteone, Florencio Varela. This crime is not an isolated incident.
In October 2023, Alberto Maycoll Guzmán Sánchez, a Peruvian national residing in Barracas, was found murdered in a field in Merlo, tied and beaten. this killing was attributed to “narco revenge” and also linked back to operations originating in Villa 1.11.14. Further illustrating the depth of the problem, a clash between rival drug gangs in Florencia varela in august 2021 resulted in four deaths, stemming from a dispute over territorial control in the San Rudecindo neighborhood.
Collusion and Distrust Plague Law Enforcement
A senior official within the Buenos Aires Ministry of Security stated bluntly, “The collusion between the Metropolitan Police and the narcos is undeniable.” This sentiment is echoed by a veteran of the Buenos Aires Ministry of Security, who noted that attempting an anti-drug operation with the Buenos Aires police is a recipe for failure. despite this,both officials agree on a critical need for improved joint work and trust between agencies.
The lack of coordination extends beyond the Metropolitan and Buenos aires Provincial Police. Interjurisdictional criminal networks, comprised of family members and associates operating on both sides of the city limits, further complicate matters. As one former Buenos aires official explained, the city itself is a major consumer of cocaine, driven by its residents’ purchasing power, and is easily accessible due to the limited geographical barriers – only General Paz Avenue separates the city from the province.
A State Absent from the Streets
The current situation is exacerbated by recent policy decisions. President Javier Milei’s suspension of all public works projects includes those necessary to complete the President Perón Highway,leaving a critical vulnerability unaddressed.this inaction,coupled with a lack of provincial responsibility for finishing the highway,has created a perfect storm for criminal activity.
Beyond infrastructure, a broader lack of state presence is identified as a key driver of the crisis. “The constant absence of the State at its different levels allows this culture of destruction and death to create and advance without brake,” lamented Eduardo García,the bishop of San Justo,whose diocese encompasses the area where the three murdered women lived. This void is being filled by criminal elements, who are increasingly establishing a foothold in vulnerable neighborhoods, offering loans and exerting control over local communities.
A team of priests working in these areas has observed a growing presence of narco-related activities, including lending, trafficking, and the recruitment of “soldiers.” “We need a present, bright, and effective state,” they assert.
