Malvín Norte: neighbors demand a strong hand in the face of a wave of violence that forces them to lock themselves up at dusk

Residents of North Malvin spoke out again this week in front of the Ministry of the Interior. Tired of living with daily shootings, violent robberies and the constant presence of weapons on the streets, they organized to demand reinforced night patrols and effective measures to restore their peace of mind. What they describe is not a subjective perception: it is a routine marked by fear, where daily activities are limited to hours of sunlight to

avoid risks.

At the meeting on March 5 with the director of Coexistence and Public Security, Víctor Abal, the neighbors were forceful: “Every day there are weapons, every day there are shootings.” They reported motorcycle chases in broad daylight, attacks on patrols with stones and stolen vehicles that ended with injured officials, and a 911 emergency service that responds with significant delays due to lack of available mobile phones. Recent events confirm this: on March 1, an attack on a Republican Guard patrol injured two officers; on March 3, 16 9mm pods hit a house after a firefight; and in various parts of the neighborhood there were clashes that forced the use of non-lethal ammunition

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The situation is not new. For months now, local leaders have requested urgent meetings with national authorities due to the sustained increase in crimes in the North Malvin and surrounding areas. However, the answers have been insufficient: promises of a greater police presence starting this weekend, specific operations and additional monitoring that, so far, have failed to stop the

escalation.

The Minister of the Interior, Carlos Negro, took office in March 2025 with a commitment to improving security indicators. A year later, in one of the most affected neighborhoods in the capital, armed violence continues to be daily, drug trafficking maintains its influence in public space and families live under a permanent sense of insecurity

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Official statements about “better results” than the previous period contrast with the reality that neighbors face every night

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Faced with this scenario, residents are not asking for more dialogue or more meetings. They demand a strong hand: permanent police saturation in the neighborhood, deployment of continuous surveillance technology, decisive action against drug and arms trafficking, and exemplary penalties for those who illegally carry firearms or participate in acts of violence. This is not about temporary patches, but about regaining control of the territory and ensuring that citizens can move freely without fear of becoming victims

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Malvín Norte cannot continue to be a permanent risk area. Uruguayans deserve a State that acts firmly and quickly against organized crime. The patience of the neighbors is running out: it is time for concrete results and for a security policy that prioritizes the effective protection of the population

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