Argentina: Existence of a Mendoza-based criminal gang known as the "police mafia"; scope, areas of influence; whether the state has taken action against it (2000 - May 2001)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 30 May 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ARG36363.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Argentina: Existence of a Mendoza-based criminal gang known as the "police mafia"; scope, areas of influence; whether the state has taken action against it (2000 - May 2001), 30 May 2001, ARG36363.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be0914.html [accessed 25 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. |
Several reports refer to the existence of a Mendoza-based criminal gang known as the "police mafia" (mafia policial) (Diario Los Andes 3 Nov. 2000; ibid. 28 Apr. 2001; ibid. 9 May 2001). The group, reportedly in existence for approximately 10 years (Canal 9 Televida 30 Nov. 2000), was composed of civilians and Mendoza provincial police officers, the majority of whom were attached to the Investigations Directorate (Dirección de Investigaciones), which is housed in police headquarters in the City of Mendoza (Clarín 3 Aug. 2000; Canal 9 Televida 30 Nov. 2000). The gang, which allegedly made use of intelligence gathered by officers serving as guards at financial institutions and other companies, carried out its robberies on pay-days or at other times when large amounts of money were on hand (Clarín 3 Aug. 2000).
Members of the group were reportedly responsible for more than 40 robberies province-wide (Canal 9 Televida 30 Nov. 2000). Alleged targets of such robberies, carried out by "delinquents" (delicuentes) in collusion with police officers, included the Mendoza newspaper Diario Los Andes and a financial company based in San Martín (ibid.). Individuals linked to the gang were also accused of involvement in the killing of at least three individuals: Roberto Castañeda in 1989 (Diario Los Andes 16 May 2001), and Pablo Rodríguez and police informer José Zambrano in 2000 (ibid. 13 Oct. 2000a; ibid. 28 Apr. 2001).
The existence of the police mafia became widely known in June 2000, when Mendoza Judge Rafael Escot ordered the arrest of approximately 20 police officers on suspicion of involvement in the gang (ibid. 28 Apr. 2001; ibid. 9 May 2001). In October 2000, 16 police officers and 5 civilians were prosecuted for "illicit association" (asociación ilícita) in connection with gang activities (ibid. 28 Apr. 2001), a measure characterized by Diario Los Andes as an important step in the "investigation and disarticulation of criminal groups linked to the police" (investigación y desarticulación de asociaciones delictivas vinculadas a la policía) (ibid. 13 Oct. 2000b). Four officers, believed to be the gang's "leaders" and "mentors," were prosecuted on charges of aggravated illicit association (ibid. 28 Apr. 2001). The alleged leaders consisted of Edgardo Argüello and Victor Loyola, along with former Sub-Commissioners Raúl Lemos and Juan Maldonaldo (ibid.).
Following their prosecution, the accused officers launched an appeal, which remained before the courts as recently as May 2001 (ibid. 9 May 2001).
In at least two cases, individuals linked to the investigation of the police mafia claimed that they had been subjected to threats or other forms of harassment (ibid. 12 Jan. 2001; ibid. 25 May 2000).
In May 2000, Gonzalo Guiñazú, the first judge to investigate police involvement in armed robberies in Mendoza (Clarín 3 Aug. 2000), claimed that he had received several death threats demanding that he suspend his investigation of police officers (Diario Los Andes 25 May 2000). According the Diario Los Andes, the threats included details concerning the movements of both the judge and his family (ibid.).
In January 2001, José Raía, who served as a witness during the trial of individuals linked to the police mafia, alleged that the authorities had failed to provide him with protection from reprisals, and that he had been beaten while in detention and his family subjected to "constant" threats by telephone (ibid. 12 Jan. 2001).
No information on whether the authorities initiated an investigation of these alleged threats 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.
References
Canal 9 Televida [Mendoza]. 30 November 2000. "Excavaciones en busca de Litín Díaz."
Clarín [Buenos Aires]. 3 August 2000. "Policías bajo la lupa: entrevista con el juez que investiga a varias bandas en Mendoza."
Diario Los Andes [Mendoza]. 16 May 2001. Damián Weizman. "'A mi hijo lo asesinó la mafia policial.'"
_____. 9 May 2001. Damián Weizman. "Caso de las mafias policiales: ahora estudiarían las apelaciones."
_____. 28 April 2001. Damián Weizman. "Nadie se hace cargo del caso de las mafias."
_____. 12 January 2001. Damián Weizman. "Mafias policiales: un testigo pide protección de los jueces."
_____. 3 November 2000. Silvina Scifo. "El magistrado refutó todas las acusaciones."
_____. 13 October 2000a. "Procesaron a 16 policías y a 5 civiles por asociación ilícita."
_____. 13 October 2000b. "Los implicados en la causa."
_____. 25 May 2000. "Fue amenazado de muerte el magistrado Gonzalo Guiñazú."
