Drug traffickers in Argentina are increasingly utilizing minors, who cannot be punished under current law, as hitmen and drug runners due to legal loopholes.
In Argentina, drug traffickers are taking advantage of legal loopholes that stipulate that individuals under the age of 14 cannot be punished for crimes. A recent case highlighted involves a 13-year-old, identified as J.T.D., who was arrested as part of a hitman group for a local drug lord in San Martín. Despite efforts by the government to raise the age of penal accountability to 14, minors like J.T.D. remain untouchable by the law, allowing them to be manipulated for criminal activities.
This trend poses significant challenges for law enforcement and raises ethical concerns about the use of vulnerable minors in crime. In another incident, the police shot a 12-year-old boy, Uriel alias Chispa, who was involved in drug distribution but could not be prosecuted due to his age. Such incidents underscore the dangers posed by criminal organizations using minors as expendable resources in their illicit operations. The implications of this exploitation extend to societal and legal frameworks that currently fail to protect these children from being used in violent crime.
The Argentine government's debate over legislation to increase the criminal responsibility of minors highlights a critical juncture in addressing youth involvement in crime. While some advocate for harsher penalties for young offenders, others argue that focusing on prevention and rehabilitation is key to breaking the cycle of violence. The exploitation of minors by drug traffickers is both a legal and social issue, necessitating comprehensive strategies that involve law enforcement, community support, and policy reform to safeguard the future of at-risk youth in Argentina.
