Police in Buenos Aires arrested five individuals for drug trafficking, who were using Mercado Pago for transactions, leading to their detection during recent operations.
In Buenos Aires, City Police conducted a series of raids that led to the arrest of five people involved in drug trafficking. These criminals were implicated after authorities noticed they were processing payments for drug sales through Mercado Pago, a popular digital wallet in Argentina. This unusual method drew law enforcement's attention and set off a chain of investigations targeting their operation.
The investigation began in August 2025, when officials first identified a point of sale that utilized Mercado Pago for transactions. Further inquiries uncovered a network of individuals, including both Argentinian and Peruvian nationals, who were executing drug sales across various neighborhoods in the city. The gang's operations spanned numerous communities, complicating efforts for the authorities to track their activities.
This past weekend, the police executed six search warrants in the settlements of 1-11-14, Illia, and Rivadavia, located in the Retiro and Flores neighborhoods. The raids successfully shut down two drug dens and resulted in the seizure of several kilograms of cocaine, additional quantities of base paste, and firearms. Following the operation, Jorge Macri, a local politician, called for the expulsion of the foreign suspects from the country, highlighting the implications of foreign involvement in local drug trafficking.
