Bullrich and Valenzuela led a major operation with 26 people arrested for car theft

In a forceful operation against organized crime, the Minister of National Security, Patricia Bullrich, and the mayor of Tres de Febrero, Diego Valenzuela, led a series of raids that dismantled a dangerous gang dedicated to vehicle theft, with a presence in various neighborhoods of the Buenos Aires metropolitan area.

Agents from the Federal Department of Investigations (DFI) of the Argentine Federal Police (PFA) seized a considerable arsenal and items related to drug trafficking. The successful operation concluded with 26 people arrested, including several minors, and the seizure of firearms, drugs, and even a hand grenade.

The procedure, carried out during the early hours of Friday, involved more than 1,200 officers from different security forces, and was the result of an investigation initiated following a complaint filed by the Municipality of Tres de Febrero, led by the mayor from La Libertad Avanza, Diego Valenzuela.

The coordination included the Ministry of National Security, Attorney General Marcelo Lapargo, as well as prosecutors from UFI 5 (Ignacio Correa), Prosecutor's Office 14 (Vanesa Leggio), and UFI 7 (Fernando Sirni).

During the operation, multiple residences were raided in neighborhoods such as Ejército de los Andes, Esperanza, Evita, Capitán Bermúdez, Carlos Gardel, Lomas del Mirador, and Derqui, both in Tres de Febrero and Morón. In each intervention, a strict security protocol was followed, which included a real-time command and monitoring center, allowing entry into high-risk areas with precise and up-to-date information.

The gang's modus operandi consisted of using ride-hailing apps to order cars and steal vehicles from drivers, often through threats or violence. In some cases, they used "mules," people recruited to undergo facial recognition in the apps, while other members of the group carried out the theft.

"Federal forces are responsible for the fight against organized crime, and these gangs use platforms that people use every day to work, study, or get around, putting the lives of honest citizens at risk," said Minister Bullrich. She also emphasized that the raids were the result of a "professional investigation, with prior intelligence and coordinated deployment of brigades."

Meanwhile, Mayor Valenzuela stated: "This allows entry with safety in the face of potential risk situations, because one may encounter people willing to resist violently. That's why this was done with professionalism and planning." He also valued the joint work with federal forces and the commitment of Milei's government to confront the mafias operating in the metropolitan area.