As was done in previous weeks and months at different points of Mendoza, This Wednesday the Police set up another megaoperation with multiple raids and kidnappings that led to 13 arrests. This time the measurements were carried out in the East Sidespecifically in the departments of La Paz and Santa Rosa.
“The measures are part of a continuity of massive and simultaneous operations that have included the largest number of raids in the shortest period recorded to date. In total, there are nine mega-operations in Mendoza, evidencing the Government’s commitment to the fight against crime,” said the Minister of Security and Justice, Mercedes Rus.
“The Ministry of Security and Justice has been carrying out a series of important operations carried out so far this year, setting a precedent by carrying out the largest number of raids in the shortest period of time recorded to date. The last operation, carried out in Santa Rosa and La Paz, yielded important results with the arrest of people related to criminal activities, including copper theft,” the official added.
The official recalled that “in total, there are already nine megaoperations developed in Mendoza, highlighting the Government’s determined approach in the fight against crime. The measures are part of a comprehensive strategy that establishes an effective relationship with Justice in order to combat crime in Mendoza. In addition, the work coordinated with authorities of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.”
Minister Mercedes Rus highlighted the continuity of this type of simultaneous and massive operations. In that sense, she recalled that “those at Campo Papa and El Algarrobal are not the only ones that have been carried out. “Weeks ago, other measures were carried out in the Cinco Mil Lotes neighborhood and in the Néstor Kirchner settlement.”
This Wednesday, police forces carried out 15 raids in different areas of Santa Rosa and La Paz, which resulted in the arrest of 12 men and one woman linked to various criminal activities, including cable theft.
During the procedures, the uniformed officers seized four bags with 50 kilos of copper, as well as 65 meters of proto cable and 40 meters of workshop-type cables. A wooden board equipped with three thermal keys, three sockets and an iron cutter was also found.
In addition, a street lighting luminaire, a reflector and a luminaire cover were confiscated. Various tools, cell phones, 39 Yuasa telephone batteries, chainsaws and a single-phase motor were seized. Among the weapons found were several 22 caliber rifles with a magazine, a telescopic sight, a shotgun, a 28 mm caliber pistol, 4 22 caliber cartridges with no visible mark and 2 765 caliber shells.
Three vehicles were identified: a Fiat Fiorino truck, a Mondial model RD150CC motorcycle and a Volkswagen car. On the other hand, 150 kilos of meat were seized due to lack of documentation and 750 kilos of carob firewood under article 8195 of the Native Forest Protection Law, loaded in a Nissan model 185, double cabin, 4 by 4 truck.
Nine megaoperations so far this year
The first operation was on March 12 in the Campo Papa neighborhood of Godoy Cruz. It was an unprecedented procedure in the last 34 years and since the sanction of the new Criminal Procedure Code (2016).
More than 800 police officers participated in the inspections of 460 homes, which resulted in the arrest of more than 60 people along with the seizure of 34 firearms, 300 cartridges of different brands and calibers, 6 bulletproof vests, and 3 vehicles with kidnapping requests. , knives, cell phones, a large number of plants and more than 1,300,000 pesos in cash.
Then, on March 27, they carried out 18 raids in Guaymallén and Las Heras related to bank leaks and other aggravated robberies. As a result, 3 people were arrested and 10 watches of different brands, 28 cell phones, 3 computers, 14 vehicles -3 motorcycles, 8 cars, 2 quadricycles and a truck-, more than one million four hundred thousand pesos, thirteen thousand dollars were kidnapped. , a money counting machine and documentation of different vehicles.
On April 5, in the Néstor Kirchner settlement in San Martín, measures were carried out that resulted in the arrest of the person in charge of a “kiosquito” and the seizure of more than 30 grams of cocaine, 100 grams of marijuana in different states, $66,000 pesos in cash, a cell phone and installment items.
Meanwhile, on April 11, eleven raids related to the gang led by El Mali were carried out in the Cinco Mil Lotes neighborhood of Las Heras. 7 people were arrested and 300 grams of cocaine, 800 grams of marijuana, more than $600,000 in cash, 7 cell phones, 3 weapons and various elements for assembling and breaking up narcotics were seized.
Operations related to the adulteration of stolen cars were also carried out on Route 7, as well as in Tunuyán and Maipú simultaneously. 9 million pesos were seized, among other measures.
Likewise, the simultaneous operations carried out on May 10 in Las Heras, Tupungato and San Martín stand out, where the arrest of eight people was achieved and the kidnapping of more than $300,000 in cash and money in other currencies, nine cell phones, a vehicle and fractionation elements.
On the other hand, on May 16, another large operation was carried out in El Algarrobal, Las Heras, with the participation of more than 400 police officers. After Intelligence and Investigation work, ten of the criminals who were wanted were found. But, in addition, six others were at the disposal of Justice for carrying weapons, drugs and even public lights.
After biometric controls, it was detected that some of them even had criminal records related to cases of theft, concealment and gender violence.
As part of the items seized in the 36 measures, narcotics for retail sale were seized. In addition, two vehicles with a kidnapping request were seized along with six firearms, five cell phones and five street lighting lamps.
Several identity documents that did not match those of the residents were also found, as well as ammunition and narcotics fractionation elements.
Finally, on Thursday, May 30, about 70 police officers carried out several raids in Villa Junín in Las Heras. As a result of these measures, four people were arrested and a firearm, ammunition, a bicycle, bank cards and personal documentation were seized.
