The President received at the Casa Rosada the canine agent, who participated in operations against drug trafficking and helped seize thousands of doses of cocaine, while her handler, Sergeant Susana Viamonte, extended her career to retire alongside her
In a gesture of high symbolic value, the President of the Nation, Javier Milei, and the Secretary General of the Presidency, Karina Milei —who specially organized the event—, formally received at the Casa RosadaHela, a distinguished drug detection dog from the Federal PoliceArgentina (PFA) who has completed her operational service.
The national leader and his sister personally congratulated the dog for her valuable work throughout a 5-year active service career defending legality.
Javier and Karina Milei
Delving into the specifics of this brave servant, Hela is a female Chesapeake Bay Retriever with a chocolate coat who was born in Argentina on January 17, 2018. In her early days, the animal was named Catalina, which was later adapted to Hela by the trainers to optimize and facilitate training through play.
The heroic dog officially joined the ranks of the PFA on July 27, 2021, receiving the badge D099. She was quickly incorporated into the narcotics detection team and assigned to the General Directorate of Anti-Drug Operations Hidrovías Paraná, a strategic unit from which she intervened in multiple federal justice operations against drug trafficking.
Hela's operational performance focused on drug detection tasks, actively participating in searches and raids aimed at locating illegal substances and storage facilities in the Greater Buenos Aires area.
Hela was born on January 17, 2018, in Argentina
One of her most significant achievements took place during the investigation directed against the cocaine and marijuana distribution network led by Miguel Ángel “Mameluco” Villalba in various neighborhoods of the Buenos Aires district of San Martín. During the raids ordered in that criminal case, Hela's precise intervention enabled the seizure of several kilograms of drugs.
Additionally, the professionalism of the police duo was crucial in the operations deployed in Puerta 8, in the district of San Martín, following the crisis of cocaine adulterated with fentanyl that caused the tragic death of 24 people and prompted a severe national health alert.
In this critical emergency scenario, the PFA canine managed to locate and seize more than 25,000 doses of cocaine that were ready for immediate sale.
Hela
The closure of this impeccable operational stage of Hela was closely linked to the admirable loyalty of her human handler, Sergeant Susana Viamonte. The PFA agent had reached the regulatory service time in 2024 to process her retirement from the force.
However, in a display of unwavering vocation and camaraderie, Sergeant Viamonte decided to postpone her retirement and remain active for two more years in the institution with the sole purpose of finishing her career at the same time as the dog. This commendable decision prevented Hela from prematurely interrupting her work and allowed her to complete her planned cycle, bidding farewell with all honors and the recognition of the President of the Nation himself.
