The Puglia clan: A family group caught in a cycle of violence and shifting alliances

A recent wave of violence in Montevideo has brought the Puglia clan, a group long associated with drug trafficking, back into the spotlight. Investigators suspect the clan was behind a recent five-homicide incident in the El Monarca neighborhood, a brutal act that appears to be retaliation for the killing of a 12-year-old boy in Parque Rodó.

The boy was the son of a leader within the Puglia clan, leading investigators to interpret the attack as "son for son." This incident followed closely on the heels of the El Monarca killings, which claimed the lives of three members of the Suárez clan, historical rivals of the Puglia. The connection is further solidified by reports that at least one of the attackers in Parque Rodó was a Suárez, suggesting a complex and escalating cycle of revenge.

The Puglia clan is described not as a traditional cartel but as a family-based organization that has formed alliances with other clans, such as the Galli and Morales families, based on business needs and territorial disputes. Their public emergence dates back to 2015, when they began vying for control of the drug market in Villa Española.

By 2023, police identified a 24-year-old named "Tatán" as a leader, known for flaunting wealth and weapons on social media after his release from prison. The clan used a taxi service for drug and arms transport, employing coded language like "milanesas" and "pilas" for their merchandise. A significant police operation in June 2023, dubbed Da Vinci, led to 15 arrests and seizures of drugs, vehicles, and cash, with authorities initially believing the organization was dismantled. However, the recent violence indicates the clan's continued, albeit shifting, presence in the city's criminal landscape.