Who is Lázaro Sotacuro, the fifth person arrested for the triple murder in Florencio Varela

The investigation into the crime of Brenda Del Castillo (20), Morena Verdi (20), and Lara Gutiérrez (15) added a new chapter in recent hours. On Friday night, authorities arrestedLázaro Víctor Sotacuro, 41 years old and of Peruvian nationality, who had been intensely sought for his alleged involvement in the crime that shocked the country. The operation took place at a hostel in the Bolivian town of Villazón, on the border with La Quiaca, Jujuy province.

According to Security Minister Patricia Bullrich and Jujuy Governor Carlos Sadir, Sotacuro was the driver of one of the pickup trucks involved in the trap that led to the murders.

The victims were last seen alive aboard a white Chevrolet Tracker. That vehicle was escorted by a Volkswagen Fox that, according to investigators, served as a "spearhead" to clear the way and avoid checkpoints. Sotacuro was traveling in that second vehicle.

The tracking of the suspect began days earlier, when it was detected that he had left Greater Buenos Aires heading north. Security cameras and public transportation records confirmed that he boarded a bus bound for Jujuy. From there, federal forces and the Jujuy Police, in coordination with the Argentine Federal Police (PFA), traced his route to the border with Bolivia.

With the firm hypothesis that he would try to cross into Bolivian territory, checkpoints were activated on provincial and national routes and border crossings. When it was confirmed that he was no longer on Argentine soil, an international cooperation request was activated with the Bolivian National Police. Finally, around 8:00 p.m. on Friday, Sotacuro was located at a low-profile lodging in the city of Villazón.

Sotacuro did not directly participate in the execution of the murder, but investigators identify him as a key part of the logistics. His role as the Fox's driver would have been crucial to ensure the transfer of the victims from La Matanza to Florencio Varela, where they were ultimately murdered and dismembered.

For prosecutors, the accused knew in advance the final destination of the trip and was part of the organization led by Victoriano "Pequeño J" Valverde, the main suspect and mastermind of the crime. That structure, according to the investigation, operated with a drug trafficking logic and carried out punishments as a form of internal discipline.