The bribes were allegedly collected at the Sampacho road checkpoint, with amounts reaching up to 600,000 pesos (1,322 pounds)
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The scandal within the National Gendarmerie in Córdoba continues to expand with new indictments. Currently, 23 officers have been accused of being part of a network that collected bribes from truck drivers at the Sampacho road checkpoint on National Route 8. According to the investigation, the amounts demanded ranged from 50,000 pesos (110 pounds) to 600,000 pesos (1,323 pounds) to allow transit without penalties.
The case is being handled by the federal prosecutor of Río Cuarto, Rodolfo Cabanillas, and began in February after a truck driver reported the bribery system. Based on his testimony, on September 10, more than 20 simultaneous raids were carried out in Córdoba and other provinces. During the operations, 14 gendarmes were arrested, including the head of the Sampacho Road Section, Analía Galiani.
According to the investigation, the officers stopped trucks for alleged irregularities and then demanded money to allow them to continue their journey. Payments were made in cash, hidden among documents, or through transfers to intermediaries. Among those identified is a man nicknamed "El Sanjuanino," who allegedly acted as a link in the operations.
Los efectivos solicitaban sobornos en el puesto vial de Sampacho, sobre la Ruta Nacional 8
The investigation is progressing and further indictments are not ruled out
The evidence collected led to the indictment of the 23 gendarmes for illicit association, illegal exactions, and abuse of authority. Of that total, 13 remain held at Bouwer prison, while two others are under house arrest. The rest of the accused have been suspended from their positions as a preventive measure while the judicial process moves forward.
Judicial sources do not rule out that in the coming days the indictments may be expanded and even the possible involvement of higher-ranking officers may be investigated. According to the investigators' hypothesis, the collection scheme allegedly operated in an organized manner between mid-2024 and September 2025. Service shifts alternated to distribute the illicit profits.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office of Río Cuarto continues to analyze the seized documentation and bank movements linked to the case. The case file seeks to determine the scope of the network and establish whether there was any cover-up within the force's hierarchical structure. For now, authorities have confirmed that the operation will remain under seal until the next statements are completed.
