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Argentina foils major cocaine ring operating from the Russian embassy in Buenos Aires

Friday, February 23rd 2018 - 09:28 UTC
Full article 4 comments
On that date Russian Embassy officials found 850 pounds of cocaine stashed in 16 pieces of luggage and alerted Argentine police. On that date Russian Embassy officials found 850 pounds of cocaine stashed in 16 pieces of luggage and alerted Argentine police.
Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said the arrests mark the end of a 14-month investigation that began in December 2016 Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said the arrests mark the end of a 14-month investigation that began in December 2016

An international drug trafficking ring operating out of the Russian Embassy in Buenos Aires was dismantled and several arrests made, Argentine police announced on Thursday.

Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said the arrests mark the end of a 14-month investigation that began in December 2016 when Russian Embassy officials found 850 pounds of cocaine stashed in 16 pieces of luggage and alerted Argentine police. The police then switched the cocaine with flour, inserted a tracking device and waited until the bags were moved.

The suspected traffickers attempted to move the bags several times, but weren't able to do so until December 2017. At that time, the bags were put on a plane to Moscow. Three Argentine customs officials traveled with the bags to monitor them. When the bags arrived at the Moscow airport, two Russian men there to pick them up were arrested.

Two dual citizens of Russia and Argentina -- Ivan Blizniouk and Alexander Chikalo -- were also arrested, according to Argentine newspaper, Clarín. Blizniouk is a Buenos Aires police officer accused of facilitating the shipment to get through customs. And Chikalo is suspected of handling the logistics.

Ali Abyanov, a former Russian embassy official in Buenos Aires, was arrested in Moscow on Thursday. He is suspected of being the contact person at the embassy for the cocaine shipment, which came from a person police only named as “Mr.K.”

Mr. K remains at large and an international warrant was put out for his arrest.

Minister Bullrich said the cocaine found in the Buenos Aires embassy was worth 50 million Euros (US$62m) and was of very high purity. She added that the final destination was Germany, and confirmed that the mastermind of the smuggling operation was in Germany and is expected to be arrested by German police.

Top Comments

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  • Zaphod Beeblebrox

    Kanye,

    Think claims to have good knowledge of many things but often it just needs a quick google search to check, and often disprove, his claims. Виктор Викторович Коронелли is Viktor Koronelli and Think is repeating (with some probably unverifiable embellishment) what is said here: http://www.thebubble.com/arrests-made-after-400-kilos-of-cocaine-are-found-at-the-russian-embassy/

    In this case Think may be correct about Koronelli's phone call but I wouldn't necessarily trust the details about 26 minutes etc.

    However, your theory about him living in the Russian Embassy is an interesting one. Does he have a job similar to the much larger effort of the Russians to interfere with US democracy by spreading fake news etc? It could explain a lot. ;-)

    Feb 23rd, 2018 - 06:43 pm +3
  • :o))

    This could be a “Regular Practice” rather than an isolated incident.

    ALL the Govt. bodies - embassies, consulates, etc - especially those who exercise diplomatic immunity; must be handling cloak, dagger & drugs. NO wonder Brazil too wants a share in the game by trying to extradite a wanted criminal for a “Fair Trial” in Brazil:
    https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/governo-brasileiro-pede-extradicao-de-maior-traficante-de-armas-do-brasil-22429869?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=O%20Globo

    Feb 25th, 2018 - 12:53 pm +1
  • Kanye

    What happened to the other four pieces of luggage and their contents?

    TV,

    Mr Think seems to have good inside knowledge of the Russian Embassy in BA.

    Perhaps that's his real abode in Argentina?

    Feb 23rd, 2018 - 05:18 pm 0
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