Cocaine Ring in Russias Argentina Embassy Dismantled

An unprecedented seizure of nearly half a ton of cocaine at the Russian embassy in Argentina has exposed an international drug ring that counted on help from corrupt officials in the police and diplomatic service.

Following a 14-month joint investigation by Argentine and Russian authorities, several individuals involved in an unusual scheme to traffic cocaine into Russia using diplomatic luggage were arrested on February 21, according to a press release from Argentina’s Security Ministry.

The astonishing saga began on December 13, 2016 when Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich received a tip from Russian Ambassador Viktor Koronelli suggesting that diplomatic suitcases being stored in a school on the embassy grounds should be searched.

Argentine authorities working in conjunction with the Russian federal security service entered the embassy in the dead of night and seized more than 850 pounds of high quality cocaine hidden inside the diplomatic luggage. Authorities then quickly fitted the bags with cameras and GPS tracking devices, replaced the cocaine with flour purchased from a Buenos Aires grocery store and put the suitcases back before embassy staff arrived the next day.

https://www.insightcrime.org/news/brief/cocaine-ring-russia-embassy-argentina-dismantled/