DistantNews
Support us
Jailed Kingpin of Drug Ring Uncovered in Argentina's Chubut Province
🇦🇷 Argentina /Crime & Justice

Jailed Kingpin of Drug Ring Uncovered in Argentina's Chubut Province

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Authorities in Chubut, Argentina, dismantled a drug trafficking network led by Luis Raúl Menocchio from Rawson prison.
  • Menocchio, a high-profile inmate known as "El Gusano" or "The Man of a Thousand Faces," is serving multiple life sentences and faces extradition from Paraguay.
  • The operation seized 17 kg of cannabis, 1.5 kg of cocaine, firearms, vehicles, and cash.

A major anti-drug operation in Argentina's Chubut province has exposed a sophisticated drug trafficking ring, revealing that its leader, Luis Raúl Menocchio, orchestrated operations from within the Rawson prison. Menocchio, a notorious figure known as "El Gusano" (The Worm) or "The Man of a Thousand Faces" among law enforcement, is a high-profile inmate serving multiple life sentences and is wanted in Paraguay for homicide.

The investigation allowed us to determine the existence of a complex organization dedicated to the marketing of narcotics in different towns in the Valley and within the penitentiary itself. At the center of the structure was identified Luis Raúl Menocchio, a high-profile criminal who is currently housed in Unit No. 6 of Rawson and who, according to the investigation, directed the organization's operations from there.

— Chubut authoritiesDetailing the findings of the anti-drug operation and Menocchio's role.

The investigation, led exclusively by the provincial police force with a central role played by the Trelew Anti-Drug Division, uncovered a complex organization involved in selling narcotics across various towns and within the penitentiary itself. Authorities reported the arrest of 17 suspects following 40 raids.

It was one of the largest operations carried out in the province. The organization was led by none other than Luis Raúl Menocchio, nicknamed El Gusano or The Man of a Thousand Faces, a criminal of the highest profile who is serving two life sentences and has an extradition request from Paraguayan justice for homicide.

— Héctor IturriozMinister of Security and Justice, highlighting Menocchio's criminal background and the scale of the operation.

During the operation, police seized approximately 17 kilograms of cannabis, 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, six firearms of various calibers, 30 mobile phones, ten vehicles, and around one million pesos in cash. Precision scales and materials used for dividing drugs were also confiscated, along with documents deemed relevant to the ongoing investigation. The Minister of Security and Justice, Héctor Iturrioz, praised the provincial police for conducting one of the largest operations in the province's history.

He managed this whole circle with all kinds of resources from Unit 6.

— Héctor IturriozExplaining how Menocchio operated from prison.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog