Federal Police officers of Argentina detained a woman suspected of participating in forest fires that affected at least 37,000 hectares in the territories of Río Negro, Chubut, and Neuquén. According to the investigation, unknown persons triggered rural property and using makeshift incendiary materials, set fire to seven means of transport, as well as destroyed the equipment located there.
The fire traces revealed a criminal nature of the incident after the discovery of an oscilloscope with a liquid accelerant, combined with Molotov cocktail components. Investigators focused on a white commercial vehicle, moving through the area without visible government plates.
Later, a person with authorization to operate the vehicle turned out to be the arrested woman. A sufficient number of links were collected, and twelve searches were conducted at the homes of people associated with the "Lof Mapu Pillán Mauiza" community.
The operation was organized by the Ministry of National Security and was based on the Federal Operational Subdivision in Esquel. The incident occurred on January 18 at the Amanaka farm and the Noruelpan community. During the operation, Federal Police arrested a 36-year-old woman in Corcovado and seized her vehicle.
In addition, a canister with flammable material was seized, where a dog-detective identified the presence of substances. Among the seizure locations are: Esquel, Laguna El Martillo, Cuartel Seferino, and Cuartel Baden 1, in the community "Sandalias" in El Mayten, in the Noruelpan community. During the seizures, Federal Police officers seized two canisters with flammable liquid, three VHF radio stations, a carbine, and a .22 caliber rifle, three CPs and 22 mobile phones, leaflets with calls to the community, six regional cards of indigenous nations with inscriptions, a notebook with notes.
The seized materials remained in the custody of the Esquel court with indications provided under the supervision of doctor Jorge Criado.
