The Government of Milei will block the use of cell phones in federal prisons

The national government authorized the installation of technology to detect and block cell phones inside federal prisons, in a measure aimed at curbing crimes that continue to be coordinated from within prisons. The decision was formalized through Resolution 336/2026 of the Ministry of Security, published in

the Official Gazette.

The initiative comes in a context where the illegal use of telephones in prison has become a key tool for criminal organizations. Recent judicial investigations exposed how detainees managed to operate real “call centers” from prisons, carrying out telephone scams, threats

and even coordinating robberies.

Faced with this scenario, the Minister of Security, Alejandra Monteoliva, ordered that the Federal Penitentiary Service (SPF) move forward with the implementation

of systems capable of identifying active mobile devices within establishments and blocking their operation selectively.

Unlike the old signal jammers, which generated interference in areas surrounding prisons, the new technology points to a more precise intervention. The objective is to detect cell phones in use inside prisons and cancel them without affecting connectivity outside walls, one of the main problems of previous systems

.

Law 24,660 allows people deprived of their liberty to communicate with family members, lawyers and relatives, but it expressly prohibits the use of cell phones. Within this framework, the State seeks to strengthen control mechanisms to ensure effective compliance with regulations.

Until now, attempts to eradicate cell phone use in prisons have had limited results. Although search operations usually result in the hijacking of devices, the problem persisted due to the ease with which they re-entered and the lack of effective technological tools to neutralize them

in real time.

The resolution also contemplates the purchase, installation and maintenance of the equipment, in addition to the approval of a specific manual that establishes the procedures for the detection and blocking of IMEI and IMSI within penalties. This technical protocol will be key to the implementation of the system.

Although the application will not be immediate, it is a structural step to regain control within prisons and cut off one of the main channels used today by criminal organizations to continue

operating from prison.