The federal Justice has ordered the detention of the head of the Dangerous Drugs Division of the Argentine Federal Police in Córdoba Capital, Commissioner Alejandro Gustavo Falcón, who has been placed in the Bouwer prison. The operation was carried out by personnel from the provincial police under the instructions of federal judge Carlos Ochoa and at the request of federal prosecutor Maximiliano Hairabedian. The judicial proceedings indicate that the police chief allegedly appropriated cash and irregularly seized a dog during various inspection procedures and raids.
The judicial investigation determines that the police chief did not record in the corresponding reports the sum of 1,800 dollars seized during a home search, as well as the amount of $2,000,000 obtained in the search of a vehicle. Regarding the canine, the proceedings indicate that the officer allegedly removed it under the pretext of adding it to the K-9 unit of the institution dedicated to locating narcotics. Additionally, the prosecutor attributes to him the unauthorized use of a patrol car and fuel from the security force to make personal trips to the city of Rosario.
The intervening prosecutor has charged the police chief with the crimes of continued embezzlement, qualified theft due to his status as a public official, ideological falsehood, and receiving bribes. In response to the charges presented, the officer rejected all accusations made during the hearing, and the force implemented the corresponding internal disciplinary measures. The authorities of the National Ministry of Security, led by Alejandra Monteoliva, are monitoring the progress of the case while the secrecy of the proceedings remains in effect.
The procedure was carried out at the request of federal prosecutor Maximiliano Hairabedian
Scope of the procedure and framework of actions
The initial investigations arose from complaints made by members of the same police delegation who noticed operational irregularities committed during the procedures. The case opened in federal courts analyzes the actions of the police chief in the various anti-drug operations carried out in the provincial jurisdiction. The investigation does not rule out the possibility of new procedural measures or the issuance of additional arrest orders in the coming weeks as the expert evaluations progress.
The detention of the national force authority occurs after coordination between the Minister of Security of Córdoba, Juan Pablo Quinteros, and the management of the national Security portfolio initiated by Patricia Bullrich. The commissioner had a background in the anti-drug specialty and held operational functions in Rosario before taking over the leadership of the area in Córdoba. Weeks ago, the detained chief led the seizure of several kilos of cocaine coming from Jujuy at the bus terminal in the Capital, where 2 women from Salta were apprehended.
In parallel to this case, judicial authorities clarified that there is no operational link with the detention of another federal officer carried out in May. At that time, Judge Carlos Ochoa ordered the arrest of an agent in the town of General Deheza for his alleged involvement in an organization dedicated to drug trafficking. The proceedings against the head of Dangerous Drugs continue their formal course in federal courts under the directives of the investigating prosecutor.
Juan Pablo Quinteros, Minister of Security of Córdoba
Judicial process, detention, and situation of the accused
Commissioner Alejandro Gustavo Falcón remains in the section designated for security force personnel in the Bouwer penitentiary facility while judicial proceedings are completed. The legal defense of the officer is preparing the necessary submissions to challenge the charges of embezzlement, qualified theft, ideological falsehood, and bribes made by the Public Prosecutor's Office. Judicial authorities are collecting accounting documentation from the procedures and testimonies from the officers who participated in the questioned inspections.
Investigators are analyzing the traceability of the fuel and the mileage records of the police vehicle used without authorization for trips to the province of Santa Fe. The experts are auditing the duty logs and the seizure reports prepared during the roadside and home procedures to determine if there were more concealment maneuvers of assets. The court will maintain the computer restrictions and the confidentiality of the proceedings to prevent the alteration of the evidence collected in the case.
The National Ministry of Security and the leadership of the Argentine Federal Police are awaiting the requests from federal Justice to send the administrative files of the official. The internal control agencies are advancing in the administrative summary to resolve the situation of the Commissioner within the institutional framework. The prosecutor will continue taking statements from members of the Dangerous Drugs Division to clarify the details of each suspected procedure.
