Gendarmerie detained three Bolivians who were transporting 235 ingested cocaine capsules

The Argentine government's direct fight against drug trafficking—one of the main priorities of President Javier Milei and Minister Patricia Bullrich's administration—has once again produced concrete results. This time, during a routine operation on National Route No. 9, National Gendarmerie detained three Bolivian citizens who were transporting drugs in capsules inside their bodies.

The incident took place in Tucumán, when personnel from the “Trancas” Fixed Control Post of Squadron 55 “Tucumán”, in coordination with officers from the Anti-Drug Directorate, carried out an inspection on a bus that had departed from Jujuy with its final destination in the province of San Juan.

During the procedure, the officers noticed that three passengers, all of Bolivian nationality, displayed clear signs of nervousness and symptoms consistent with the ingestion of drug capsules. Given the well-founded suspicion of a possible case of drug trafficking, the Federal Court of Tucumán was immediately notified, which authorized the transfer of the individuals to a local hospital for X-ray examinations.

The scans confirmed what the officers suspected: the three men had ingested a total of 235 cocaine capsules, which represents a total weight of 2 kilos 554 grams (5 pounds 10 ounces) of the narcotic. After being hospitalized under observation, the individuals expelled the capsules naturally and were immediately detained for violating Law 23.737, which punishes the trafficking and possession of illegal drugs.

A criminal method as primitive as it is lethal

According to experts, this type of criminal maneuver is not new. The so-called “human mules” are people who, in many cases, are recruited by transnational criminal organizations, ingest dozens of cocaine capsules wrapped in latex or wax with the aim of evading police and border controls.

The method, in addition to being illegal, is extremely dangerous. If a capsule breaks inside the stomach, the substance can cause lethal intoxication, leading to seizures, tachycardia, hypertension, and even death from acute overdose.

The operation represents a new blow to international drug trafficking that seeks to penetrate Argentine territory through internal routes and public transportation. Security Minister Patricia Bullrich has been emphatic in strengthening controls throughout northern Argentina, especially at key points such as Jujuy, Salta, and Tucumán, which have become critical zones for the entry of drugs coming from Bolivia.