Neuquén launches plan to shield Vaca Muerta from organized crime with advanced technology and international partners

Neuquén province in Argentina is pioneering a comprehensive security strategy to shield the Vaca Muerta energy hub from organized crime, employing cutting-edge technology and international cooperation. Governor Rolando Figueroa is spearheading this public policy, with significant technical input from Judge María Soledad Gennari, who has been a key figure in combating drug micro-trafficking.

The initiative aims to align the interests of major global energy conglomerates with local citizen security. Judge Gennari explained to La Nación that the plan is designed not only to protect assets and encourage private investment, both local and foreign, but also to prevent drug trafficking from threatening the workers flocking to the area. A particular concern is the rise of synthetic drugs in Argentina, as highlighted by a recent United Nations report.

Gennari further detailed how the necessity of ensuring "overall legal security," which benefits substantial foreign investments, has garnered massive international support. This has equipped Neuquén's oil hub with technology from the FBI, intelligence from Italy, and operational security capabilities surpassing those in any other jurisdiction in the country. The province plans to replicate this model elsewhere in the medium term.

The logic is straightforward: significant investment is impossible in areas plagued by high levels of drug trafficking or crime. For foreign companies and governments, drug trafficking represents not just a social issue but a direct threat to their business risk assessments. "The fight against international drug trafficking in Neuquén is coordinated and unwavering," stated Gennari.

Neuquén is experiencing a massive influx of both internal and global migration, drawn by the hydrocarbon industry. However, this flow of capital and people has also made the province an attractive location for criminal organizations seeking to establish drug distribution and sales logistics. Gennari emphasized that crime is viewed as a major threat to investment, as insecurity is legally detrimental to any market aiming to attract legitimate capital. "Human capital must be especially protected," she added.