Black widow ring busted in Buenos Aires with final arrest

A criminal ring known as "black widows," which operated in the upscale Puerto Madero district of Buenos Aires, has been dismantled with the capture of its final member. The three women accused of seducing men in nightclubs, drugging them, and then robbing them of cash, electronics, and other valuables, are now all in custody.

The last suspect, a 30-year-old woman who had evaded capture during an initial police operation, was recently apprehended in the 20 de Junio neighborhood of San Justo, located in the La Matanza party. She had been a fugitive for several months, with national and international arrest warrants issued for her.

The investigation, led by the City Police's Division of Crimes Against Health and Personal Safety, began after an incident last August. According to the investigation, two men met three women at a Puerto Madero nightclub and spent hours drinking together. As the night progressed, one man began to feel unwell, but both decided to leave with the women in a ride-share vehicle.

The journey concluded at a residence in the Villa Crespo neighborhood. There, one man chose to go home, while the other remained with the women. Investigators suspect the victim was drugged by the women, who then stole his cash, electronic devices, and other valuables before fleeing. Evidence gathered included transport company records, security camera footage, and social media analysis.

Detectives identified the suspects and determined their base of operations was in San Justo. In February, a judge ordered simultaneous raids on a property in that area, leading to the arrest of two alleged members of the group. Police also seized three cell phones and several tablets of Clotiazepam, a powerful sedative believed to have been used to incapacitate the victims.