Morón official sought for drug trafficking remains fugitive; mayor sends delegate to interpellation

Luna Suyai Ortigoza, a former official in the Morón municipality, is still a fugitive two weeks after a police raid on her home uncovered half a kilogram of cocaine. Ortigoza, who previously served as the director of the Integral Territorial Center for Gender and Diversity Policies, was removed from her post the day after the May 21 search of her Castelar residence.

The investigation is being handled by the 9th prosecutor's office in Morón. Ortigoza, who belongs to the militant Nuevo Encuentro party family in the San Juan neighborhood, has been on the run since the discovery. The municipality has been politically impacted by the case, leading Mayor Lucas Ghi to delegate his appearance at an interpellation session to his Security Secretary, Damián Cardoso.

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She carried out her activities normally; there was no early warning, nothing to suggest she had criminal activity. The crime was not committed in connection with her work activity. It was a crime completely alien to the municipal administration.

Cardoso stated before the Deliberative Council that Ortigoza's alleged criminal activity was unrelated to her municipal duties. "She carried out her activities normally; there was no early warning, nothing to suggest she had criminal activity. The crime was not committed in connection with her work activity. It was a crime completely alien to the municipal administration," Cardoso asserted. He added that Ortigoza had a six-year municipal career with no disciplinary issues that would have indicated a criminal profile for her position.

The four-hour interpellation session saw council members question Cardoso about Ghi's absence and Ortigoza's potential involvement in the case of Hernán Sabbatella, the municipality's legal and technical secretary, who faces accusations of gender-based violence. Cardoso stated he was unaware of details related to the Gender area. Opposition councilors also challenged Cardoso regarding Ghi's earlier comments that Ortigoza "comes from another administration," with Cardoso clarifying that she joined the municipality on February 1, 2020, during Ghi's tenure as mayor.

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Ortigoza had a six-year municipal career with no disciplinary issues that would have indicated a criminal profile for her position.