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| Grenades, Mines and U.S. Weapons Parts: Argentina Foils Huge Smuggling Operation | Grenades, Mines and U.S. Weapons Parts: Argentina Foils Huge Smuggling Operation |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| BUENOS AIRES — Thousands of powerful weapons, including an antiaircraft system and arms parts from the United States, have been confiscated by law enforcement officials in Argentina, who called it the largest seizure of illegal arms in the country’s history. | BUENOS AIRES — Thousands of powerful weapons, including an antiaircraft system and arms parts from the United States, have been confiscated by law enforcement officials in Argentina, who called it the largest seizure of illegal arms in the country’s history. |
| Acting on tips from United States and Brazilian investigators, the police in Argentina carried out 52 raids across the country this week in an effort to dismantle a sophisticated trans-Atlantic arms-smuggling scheme that relied on a network of secret bunkers. Among the 2,500 weapons found were grenades and anti-tank mines. | Acting on tips from United States and Brazilian investigators, the police in Argentina carried out 52 raids across the country this week in an effort to dismantle a sophisticated trans-Atlantic arms-smuggling scheme that relied on a network of secret bunkers. Among the 2,500 weapons found were grenades and anti-tank mines. |
| “This is an army,” Patricia Bullrich, the Argentine security minister, said in a televised interview on Wednesday. The street value of the confiscated weapons is estimated at $150 million to $200 million, Ms. Bullrich said. | “This is an army,” Patricia Bullrich, the Argentine security minister, said in a televised interview on Wednesday. The street value of the confiscated weapons is estimated at $150 million to $200 million, Ms. Bullrich said. |
| Officials said that the traffickers had shipped the parts, often from the United States, to Argentina for assembly. From there, smugglers would drive the cargo through Paraguay and across that country’s porous border into Brazil, where powerful drug-trafficking gangs are facing an intensifying crackdown. | Officials said that the traffickers had shipped the parts, often from the United States, to Argentina for assembly. From there, smugglers would drive the cargo through Paraguay and across that country’s porous border into Brazil, where powerful drug-trafficking gangs are facing an intensifying crackdown. |
| At least 23 people have been arrested in Argentina this week in connection with the arms scheme. American law enforcement officials are expected to announce additional details about the investigation Friday morning during a news conference in Miami. | At least 23 people have been arrested in Argentina this week in connection with the arms scheme. American law enforcement officials are expected to announce additional details about the investigation Friday morning during a news conference in Miami. |
| Ms. Bullrich said two Brazilians and an Argentine had been taken into custody in the United States as part of the investigation. | Ms. Bullrich said two Brazilians and an Argentine had been taken into custody in the United States as part of the investigation. |
| Argentine officials said the investigation began in November, after officials, acting on tips from American investigators, seized 600 weapons. That led the authorities to a sophisticated smuggling network with hubs in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, which relied on the countries’ postal services to move the weapons parts. | Argentine officials said the investigation began in November, after officials, acting on tips from American investigators, seized 600 weapons. That led the authorities to a sophisticated smuggling network with hubs in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, which relied on the countries’ postal services to move the weapons parts. |
| Much of the arsenal arrived in Argentina aboard a Portuguese-flagged vessel named Palak, which became the investigation’s code name. Officials said a ringleader of the network, a man they identified as Ricardo Guillermo Deisernia, had a secret bunker inside his home in the Martínez district of Buenos Aires Province. | Much of the arsenal arrived in Argentina aboard a Portuguese-flagged vessel named Palak, which became the investigation’s code name. Officials said a ringleader of the network, a man they identified as Ricardo Guillermo Deisernia, had a secret bunker inside his home in the Martínez district of Buenos Aires Province. |
| When officers searched the house this week, officials said, they found a bulletproof door in the laundry area that led to an air-conditioned armory, which had dozens of powerful rifles hanging from the walls. In the port city of Bahía Blanca, law enforcement officials uncovered a cache of weapons in a second bunker inside a dentist’s office. | When officers searched the house this week, officials said, they found a bulletproof door in the laundry area that led to an air-conditioned armory, which had dozens of powerful rifles hanging from the walls. In the port city of Bahía Blanca, law enforcement officials uncovered a cache of weapons in a second bunker inside a dentist’s office. |
| Argentina has been involved in arms-smuggling networks, with one scandal reaching the halls of power — the government of President Carlos Menem. In 2013, he was sentenced to seven years in prison for illegally selling weapons to Ecuador and Croatia in the 1990s, when both countries were engulfed in armed conflicts. | Argentina has been involved in arms-smuggling networks, with one scandal reaching the halls of power — the government of President Carlos Menem. In 2013, he was sentenced to seven years in prison for illegally selling weapons to Ecuador and Croatia in the 1990s, when both countries were engulfed in armed conflicts. |
| A court said his government had smuggled more than 6,000 tons of weapons to the countries through Venezuela and Panama. The sentence was ultimately overturned by the country’s highest criminal court last year. | A court said his government had smuggled more than 6,000 tons of weapons to the countries through Venezuela and Panama. The sentence was ultimately overturned by the country’s highest criminal court last year. |
| Brazil’s main drug-trafficking organizations, the First Capital Command and the Red Command, import millions of dollars’ worth of arms to retain control of lucrative hubs in the trans-Atlantic cocaine trade. The country is one of the largest cocaine consumer markets in the world and an important transit point for drugs shipped to Europe and Africa. | Brazil’s main drug-trafficking organizations, the First Capital Command and the Red Command, import millions of dollars’ worth of arms to retain control of lucrative hubs in the trans-Atlantic cocaine trade. The country is one of the largest cocaine consumer markets in the world and an important transit point for drugs shipped to Europe and Africa. |
| The Brazilian groups, which have tens of thousands of foot soldiers, control vast districts in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and other large Brazilian cities, and they engage in almost daily gun battles with rival gangs and the security forces. | The Brazilian groups, which have tens of thousands of foot soldiers, control vast districts in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and other large Brazilian cities, and they engage in almost daily gun battles with rival gangs and the security forces. |
| Newly elected leaders in Brazil, including Gov. Wilson Witzel of Rio de Janeiro, have endorsed draconian tactics against drug-smuggling gangs. | |
| “The way traffickers are working to protect their drug trade, with terrorist acts, with bombs, generating panic in the population, is an affront to institutions,” Mr. Witzel, a former federal judge, said in December, shortly before taking office. “We need to work to confront them in the same way they’re acting, as terrorists.” | |
| Mr. Witzel said the police would use snipers to kill armed criminals from afar, and has asserted that the police have the authority to shoot at armed drug traffickers. Since he was sworn in, in January, the police in the state have killed people at an unprecedented rate. During the first four months of the year, the police killed at least 558 people, roughly five per day, in a state home to nearly 17 million. |