Argentina: Allocation of Federal Police (Policia Federal) throughout Argentina and particularly in the city and province of Mendoza; responsibilities of the Federal Police in Mendoza; level of cooperation between federal and provincial police forces; treatment by Federal Police of individuals associated with left-wing political parties (1999 - September 2000)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 2 October 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ARG35487.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Argentina: Allocation of Federal Police (Policia Federal) throughout Argentina and particularly in the city and province of Mendoza; responsibilities of the Federal Police in Mendoza; level of cooperation between federal and provincial police forces; treatment by Federal Police of individuals associated with left-wing political parties (1999 - September 2000), 2 October 2000, ARG35487.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be0520.html [accessed 18 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a September 1998 report in Platypus Magazine, a journal published monthly by the Australian Federal Police, Argentina's federal capital is
Policed by the Policia Federal de Argentina (Federal Police) and each of the provinces maintains its own autonomous police force. The Federal Police also maintains 'delegaciones' (police offices) in each of the provinces who are responsible for the enforcement of federal laws.
This information was corroborated by an officer with the Departamento de Comunicaciones Sociales (Department of Public Communications) of the Argentinean Federal Police (Policia Federal Argentina), who stated in a 21 September 2000 interview that the majority of Federal Police officers are based in the city of Buenos Aires, where they serve as a city police force. The officer further stated that the Federal Police maintains a number of detachments elsewhere in the country, including two in the province of Mendoza, where they have responsibility for federal crimes (delitos federales) such as narcotics trafficking (ibid.). According to the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 1999, the "primary federal forces" involved in counter-narcotics efforts in Argentina are the Federal Police, the National Gendarmerie, the National Customs Service, the National Air Police and the National Coast Guard (Mar. 2000).
According to the Federal Police Website, detachments outside of the Federal Capital are divided into three regions: Buenos Aires (Region 1), Centre (Region 2) and South (Region 3) (Policia Federal Argentina 2000). In Region 1, there are stations (delegaciones) in Avellaneda, Lomas de Zamora, Moron, San Isidro, San Martin, Azul, Bahia Blanca, Dolores, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Campana, Concepción del Uruguay, Concordia, Mercedes, Parana, San Nicolas, Corrientes, Formosa, Goya, Paso de los Libres, Posadas, Resistencia, and sub-stations (subdelegaciones) in Chascomús, Olavarría, Pinamar, Tandil, 25 de Mayo, Junín, Pergamino, El Dorado, Roque Saenz Peña and Puerto Iguazú (ibid. 1999a). In Region 2, there are stations in Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta, San Pedro (Jujuy), Santiago del Estero, Tucuman, Cordoba, Rio Cuarto, Bell Ville, Santa Fe, Rosario, and sub-stations in Concepcion, La Quiaca, Termas de Rio Hondo, Reconquista, Villa Maria and Venado Tuerto (ibid. 1999b). In Region 3, there are stations in La Rioja, Mendoza, San Juan, San Rafael (Mendoza), Neuquen, Santa Rosa, Viedma, Comodoro Rivadavia, Rawson, Rio Gallegos, Ushuala, and sub-stations in Villa Mercedes, Bariloche, General Pico, General Roca, San Martin de los Andes, Zapala, Esquel and Rio Grande (ibid. 1999c).
No information on the number of Federal Police officers stationed in the city or province of Mendoza could be found among the documentary sources consulted by the Research Directorate. In a 2 October 2000 interview, a first corporal (cabo primero) with the Federal Police's Mendoza detachment stated that he could not provide details on the number of Federal Police officers stationed in Mendoza, as such information is confidential.
Information on the level of cooperation between the Federal Police and provincial police forces is scarce among the sources consulted. However, according to a 21 April 1999 report by the Buenos Aires newspaper Ambito Financiero, the Federal Police and Mendoza Provincial Police were involved in a "joint operation" in April 1999 in San Rafael in which an undisclosed amount of cocaine was seized, leading to the arrest of 36 individuals.
No reports on the treatment of individuals associated with left-wing political parties by the Federal Police could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Ambito Financiero [Buenos Aires]. 19 April 1999. "Argentina: Paper Reports on Drug Activity, Prevention Initiatives in Mendoza." (NEXIS/ (BBC Worldwide Monitoring 21 April 1999/NEXIS)
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 1999. March 2000. United States Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Washington, DC.
Platypus Magazine [Canberra]. September 1998. "Reflections on the AFP Presence in Latin America."
Policia Federal Argentina, Delegación Mendoza, Mendoza. 2 October 2000. Telephone interview with first corporal.
_____, Departamento de Comunicaciones Sociales, Buenos Aires. 21 September 2000. Telephone interview with officer.
_____. 2000. "Estructura orgánica."
_____. 1999a. "Region I - Buenos Aires."
_____. 1999b. "Region II - Centro."
_____. 1999c. "Region III - Sur."
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB databases.
Jane's International Police Review [London]. July 1999-June 2000.
One oral source could not provide information on the topic within the time constraints of the Response.
Internet sites including:
Clarín [Buenos Aires]. Jan. 1998-Sept. 2000.
Comisión de Familiares de Víctimas Indefensas de la Violencia Social (COFAVI)
Coordinadora contra la Represión Policial y Institucional (CORREPI)
Corrupción Policial, Judicial y Politica en la República Argentina.
Cuerpos Policiales.
Diario Los Andes [Mendoza]. Mar.-May 2000; Sept.-Oct. 2000.
Movimiento Ecumenico por los Derechos Humanos (MEDH)
La Nación [Buenos Aires]. Jan. 1998-Sept. 2000.
Officer.Com.
Policias de Argentina.
Ser en el 2000.
Servicio Paz y Justicia (SERPAJ)
War, Peace and Security Guide.
