A report revealed that the drugs seized in Argentina increased by 500% after Milei took office

A report from the Financial Intelligence and Research Fund (FININT) confirmed a strong increase in the amount of drugs seized in Argentina since the assumption of President Javier Milei, with a 508% increase in the volume seized and a 680% increase in the number of operations compared to the period 2020-2023.

According to the study, between January 2024 and June 2026, federal forces seized 14,946 kilos of cocaine hydrochloride in large-scale operations, based on 44 verifiable procedures, all of which involved shipments exceeding 100 kilograms. This figure represents approximately 85% of the total cocaine seized during that period.

The report, titled “Cocaine Seizures in Argentina,” was prepared using public data from the National Security Ministry, along with information from news portals and records from the Public Prosecutor's Office.

The analysis shows a significant change in the operational dynamics of federal forces, with greater presence on strategic routes and a sustained increase in controls.

In this regard, the president of FININT, Juan Félix Marteau, explained the factors behind this phenomenon. "The federal forces are more active in their task of controlling the usual routes used for transporting this type of substance. The level of violence caused by drug trafficking in Argentina until 2023 prompted a reaction from both the federal government and the governors, including the province of Santa Fe."

Comparison Against Kirchnerism

The comparative data clearly reflects the scale change. Between 2020 and 2023, during the government of Alberto Fernández, the annual average was 2.5 procedures with 1,092 kilos seized. In contrast, between 2024 and 2025, that figure rose to 19.5 operations and more than six tons annually, with an average of 340 kilos per procedure.

The annual evolution also shows an upward trend: in 2024, 15 procedures were recorded with 5,654 kilos seized; in 2025, 24 operations with 7,631 kilos; and in the first half of 2026, five procedures with 1,660 kilos seized.

The report also identifies the main routes used for trafficking. “The seizures we analyzed allow us to conclude that Route 34 is the main vector for the trafficking of Bolivian cocaine in our territory. Of the nearly 15,000 kilograms seized, 5,000 were confiscated in this corridor,” Marteau noted.

Furthermore, the study indicates that more than 80% of the seized loads originate from Bolivia, confirming the consolidation of regional routes and Argentina's role as a transit and distribution point in the international circuit.

The data reflects a scenario in which the actions of federal forces intensified significantly after the arrival of Milei's government, with a direct impact on the volume of drugs intercepted in the country.