A criminal gang was dismantled after kidnapping a merchant from La Matanza, keeping him captive for five days. The ransom payment of $4,800,000 was agreed upon and made in Gregorio de Laferrere on February 22. Despite the payment, the kidnappers held the victim, I.M.T., and continued making extortionary calls to his family until February 24 when he was released in Ciudad Evita.
After analyzing communications, security camera images, and conducting various tasks, the responsible parties for the kidnapping were identified. Nine raids were carried out in locations such as Villa Bosch, Monte Grande, González Catán, and Gregorio de Laferrere, culminating in the arrest of the suspects, the seizure of vehicles, firearms, cash, and cell phones.
According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, a potential place of captivity was identified in Monte Grande, where the victim described a wooden shack with certain characteristics. Six men and two women were arrested as members of the gang. Their prosecution was requested for extortionate kidnapping and aggravated robbery, among other crimes.
The federal court in charge ordered the prosecution with preventive detention of the arrested individuals, including a neighbor of the victim. It was detailed that a third woman was released due to lack of merit. Merchant I.M.T. and his partner were intercepted in February by armed individuals dressed as police, with I.M.T. being held for five days until his release after the ransom payment.
During the kidnapping, the captors made extortionary calls demanding a ransom of $300,000. The gang was dismantled thanks to telephone interceptions and the analysis of security cameras. The accused face charges of extortionate kidnapping, aggravated robbery, and illegal possession of military-grade weapons, among other crimes.
