11 years later, they add the Police to the fight against drug trafficking in Córdoba

64

Without providing too many details and specifications, the Minister of National Security, Patricia Bullrich, announced that on a date to be determined, an “elite group” called “joint operational group” will be created in the city of Córdoba from which, she said, they will take part members of the Anti-Drug Police Force (FPA) and the Police of the Province of Córdoba, among others in uniform and investigations.

He indicated that the personnel of this group will be trained by experts from the Drug Enforcement Administration (the US DEA). He said it alongside the Minister of Security of Córdoba, Juan Pablo Quinteros. After a while, the national official met with Governor Martín Llaryora.

If this work plan against drug trafficking comes to fruition, there are two no less important points: on the one hand, we would be faced with a clear reformulation of the FPA 10 years after its creation by law in Córdoba and, on the other hand, at the same time , the provincial police will once again take part in the fight against drugs in this province.

In parallel, it should not be ruled out that some reformulation should be implemented to the provincial security law, especially in the role of the Police and its role in the fight against drugs. Today, the provincial police do not investigate drug trafficking. If you find or seize drugs in operations (which is usually very common), you must turn everything over to the FPA.

In 2013 the “narco-scandal” broke out in the heart of Córdoba.

That was a tsunami for the province. There were echoes in the country.

It happened that a trucho informant (“buchón”) named Francisco “el Francés” Viarnes came out to report that a network of police officers from the Dangerous Drugs Directorate of the Córdoba Police was participating in criminal actions together with drug traffickers.

In the midst of all this, and while the justice system began to investigate, a police officer (named Juan Alós) appeared dead with a bullet in the temple. Years later, federal Justice would confirm that he had committed suicide.

As part of the “narco-scandal” several police officers and even chiefs were arrested and ended up in Bouwer.

The then Chief of Police and Minister of Security, Ramón Frías and Alejo Paredes, had to resign by order of the then Governor José Manuel de la Sota.

Justice would not prove anything against them, finally.

However, that wouldn’t happen with other Dangerous Drugs cops.

Several of them, led by the then Chief Commissioner Rafael Sosa, would end up convicted years later for being part of an illicit association, according to federal Justice. A higher ruling even forced more prison sentences to be imposed on them. Today they are all free. Viarnes, for all this, was convicted of scams of all kinds.

As soon as he arrived in Córdoba, Bullrich toured the FPA facilities. (Government of Córdoba)

Goodbye to the Córdoba Police

Going back to 2013, such was the uproar unleashed at the national level that De la Sota decided to literally put an end to Dangerous Drugs.

Not only did it dismantle that area, but it also took away from the Provincial Police, and for the first time in its history, all responsibility in the investigation against drug trafficking.

Until then, “joint work” against drug trafficking by the Police and federal forces was discussed and promised. Cristina Fernández was president and Sergio Berni was her Minister of Security.

Once Dangerous Drugs disappeared, it was announced to change the law, create the FPA and, as something new, it was left under the responsibility not of the provincial State, but of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The core of the FPA was the one that was going to combat drug dealing.

In fact, for this purpose, anti-drug trafficking prosecutor’s offices were created at the provincial level of Cordoba.

Large-scale drug trafficking was going to remain (and remained) under the control of federal forces – such as the Gendarmerie and the Argentine Federal Police – and under the directives of the federal Justice.

However, the main obstacle was for the FPA to begin to function in practice. In the neighborhoods.

Since there was no staff, they had to be found and trained. Investigations detectives were then extracted from the Córdoba Police itself.

This, at the time, generated deep discomfort in the Police: “They dismantle Drugs and on top of that they take people away from us!” said senior leaders.

In 2014, a year after the “narco-scandal,” the FPA was created by law.

But it was only in May 2015 that the force with the men in black (later women would join) began to work.

Alejandro Moyano was attorney general. Julio Suárez was Chief of Police. Later, Suárez would be fired after the theft of weapons from Headquarters. Suárez, years later, would be convicted of threats and possession of a weapon.

During 2013 and 2015, local drug gangs grew, expanded and spread tentacles throughout much of the Capital and interior.

The FPA began to operate slowly in the Capital and, over the following years, spread to other jurisdictions in the province.

In his terms as governor, Juan Schiaretti not only endorsed the FPA but also provided it with more resources, human and material.

The FPA is a kind of “younger sister” of the Córdoba Police.

In fact, its historic and current boss, Adrián Salcedo, is a former member of the Eter Police group. It was formed under the wing of Alejo Paredes.

Both forces are today “twinned” and have carried out joint operations in neighborhoods. However, suspicion and a certain distrust between high- and low-ranking officials of both institutions never ceased throughout all this time.

There were many times that the Caminera (arm of the Córdoba Police) came out to brag, under their breath, about the times they found large quantities of drugs on routes in operations for traffic violations.

The same thing happens when patrol personnel find bricks of marijuana or a few kilos of cocaine during robbery raids.

In parallel, there were many times that those from the FPA – some take it as a kind of “return of kindness” – came out to boast every time they arrested a police officer for drug trafficking. A few hours ago, another one fell in the north of Córdoba.

The arrest in the province of Córdoba.

United by convenience

In any case, in recent times, both when Liliana Zárate was Chief of Police and now with Leonardo Gutiérrez at the head of the men and women in blue, the links between the Police and FPA have been good.

The current governor Llaryora has already said that he does not want to make the FPA disappear. Not only did he announce that he will create more bases and give them more money (although it depends on the Attorney General’s Office), but for those closest to him he says and repeats that it is healthy that there are several security forces in parallel in Córdoba. “This way, they look at each other and control each other,” the president often says.

The last crisis of criminal violence in Rosario forced Llaryora to send his Minister of Security, Juan Pablo Quinteros, not only to travel to that city of Santa Fe to learn more, but he also had to bring together the heads of the Police and the FPA and develop a plan to “reinforce” controls on the border between Córdoba and Santa Fe. Quinteros, on behalf of Llaryora, also demanded gendarmes from the Nation.

A few hours later, the San Justo Police Department received a drug threat. From the Panal and the Córdoba Police, in tune with the Nation, they spoke of narcoterrorism.

A few days later, remarkably, a Gendarmerie operation found in Morteros just over 150 kilos of cocaine that were hidden in a truck that was traveling from Salta to Buenos Aires.

This discovery once again made it clear how easily the drug travels by route in Córdoba.

Quinteros was with Bullrich days ago in Buenos Aires. After an invitation and after the crisis unleashed in Rosario, the official now arrived in Córdoba. They point out that it will not be the last time for him.

During his visit, he not only visited the FPA, but, together with Quinteros, announced the creation of an elite group where the FPA itself and the Córdoba Police will participate.

“There are no resources, but there is will,” said Bullrich. There are many bosses who took note of that phrase and commented on it later on WhatsApp.

Bullrich announced the creation of an “elite group” in Córdoba. (The voice)