Operation Cleopatra in Uruguay: more than 300 kilos of cocaine seized in Montevideo

In Uruguay, a police operation is underway that aims to dismantle an illegal organization that was engaged in drug trafficking. Specifically, they entered, collected, conditioned and shipped narcotic substances abroad.

In this context, and with the intention of combating illicit trafficking in narcotic substances, operation “Cleopatra”, led by the Specialized Prosecutor for Narcotic Drugs, began in January 2022.

After months of police intelligence, information analysis and surveillance, as well as the exchange of information with policemen from other countries, it was possible to identify those responsible for the drug trafficking chain and understand the modus operandi they used to function.

It was established that one of the men involved in the drug trafficking chain received a van, by one of the leaders of the criminal group, and that it was used to transfer the substance to a house in the Jacinto Vera neighborhood, on the outskirts of the city of Montevideo.

As a result of this information, a search was carried out in the house where 311 bricks of cocaine (333 kilos) were seized. Marketed wholesale in the Uruguayan market, it would have a value of approximately 2,830,500 dollars. Meanwhile, in retail, its value would amount to $3,996,480 and placed on the European market would generate a profit of 11,655,000 dollars.

On the basis of this first search, another six were carried out in Montevideo and in Canelones, the department bordering the capital. They seized 41,880 euros, 40,000 dollars, 13,400 Uruguayan pesos, five vehicles, two shotguns (one of them with 12 cartridges), 12 cell phones, a tablet, a tape recorder, a precision scale, a money counting machine, nine blue bags, identity documents, papers and various documents.

In turn, five men and two women were arrested. A man with the initials “C.O.P.V.”, aged 51, was sentenced “as the perpetrator criminally responsible for a crime of trafficking in prohibited narcotic substances in the form of possession, transport and distribution, to 5 years and 8 months of imprisonment”.

Also to the 24-year-old G.N.S.C., as the perpetrator criminally responsible for a crime of assisting drug trafficking activities, is sentenced to 12 months in prison. A 25-year-old “J.S.G.B.”, holder of four criminal records, as co-perpetrator of a crime of trafficking in prohibited narcotic substances with pre-trial detention until August 30.

A 58-year-old man was also formalized as an alleged co-author, and was ordered to be held in custody until August 30, 2022. For “S.S.M.”, 24, with two records, total house arrest was ordered, which will expire on August 30.

As for the two women, they were released. In turn, an international arrest warrant was issued for a Uruguayan linked to the organization, who was arrested in Buenos Aires on Sunday, April 3, and will be extradited back to his country.

Regarding Operation Cleopatra, the Minister of the Interior, Luis Alberto Heber, said that this is thanks to “a very important intelligence maneuver (...) and a brilliant operation for which we are very proud of the Police.”

“We hit up and down. We continue to have an attitude against organized crime and drug trafficking. (...) We believe that we must combat both the large drug trafficking, the mouths of base pasta and drug trafficking,” he added.

KEEP READING: