The Armed Forces carried out an operation by air and land that turned out to be the most important in the country by intercepting a plane with almost half a ton of cocaine 20 kilometers from the city of Rosario. Manuel Adorni, presidential spokesman, along with Security Minister Patricia Bullrich and Defense Minister Luis Petri, held a press conference to provide details of the case.
Petri explained that the operation was complex and involved the Argentine Air Force, the Aerospace Joint Command, and the National Gendarmerie. A small plane was detected entering Argentine airspace irregularly from Bolivia, bordering Paraguay, without a flight plan or identification, which triggered a pursuit by two Tucano planes. Finally, the Bolivian aircraft was intercepted after two hours of monitoring.
The unauthorized Cessna 206, in Argentine airspace, was transporting 475 kilograms of cocaine valued at 7 million dollars. Bullrich highlighted the quick reaction of the security forces that allowed the operation to be carried out successfully. It was also announced that they will continue working to dismantle the drug trafficking gang in the Rosario area, deemed crucial in this fight.
During the conference, the importance of combating drug trafficking at all levels was emphasized, whether on land at the borders, by water, or by air. Adorni stressed that this operation is part of a Government plan to confront drug trafficking vigorously, following precise instructions from the President of the Nation.
In addition to those mentioned, present at the conference were the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, Javier Isaac; the Chief of the General Staff of the Air Force, Fernando Luis Mengo; the Secretary of Security, Alejandra Monteoliva; and the General Commander of the Gendarmerie, Claudio Brilioni.
