Following an undercover surveillance operation and a lockdown on National Route 12 in Monte Carlo, the Misiones Police made the largest cocaine seizure ever recorded by the force and one of the most significant in the region. The seizure involved 10.889 kg of cocaine hydrochloride, valued at more than 200 million pesos, which were hidden in a car's fender compartment. Two Paraguayan men, aged 30 and 38, were arrested.
The operation began just after 11 p.m. on Saturday, August 23, when undercover investigators detected a car leaving Eldorado. To prevent a possible escape, a blocking device was set up at kilometer 1520 of Route 12, in Montecarlo. There, upon intercepting a Volkswagen Vento station wagon, officers from the Traffic Safety and Tourism Department noticed anomalies in the vehicle's structure, which led to a thorough search.
With the collaboration of the NEA Special Operations Group (GOCNEA) and a dog trained in narcotics detection, a hidden compartment was discovered in the passenger fender. Inside were the 10 packages of cocaine, which were seized by order of the Eldorado Court and Federal Prosecutor's Office.
According to official estimates, the shipment is valued at approximately $201,750,000, considering the price of the substance once fractionated on the illegal market. The seized amount would be enough to make approximately 11,000 doses for drug dealing.
The two occupants of the vehicle were detained at the disposal of the Federal Court, while the drugs, the vehicle, and three cell phones were seized to further the investigation and establish the network of connections, the origin, and the destination of the narcotics.
Large deployment with highly specialized personnel
The head of the Misiones Police, Sandro Martínez, described this procedure as"historic" and emphasized that it was "one of the most important" carried out by the provincial force "in its history."
Along these lines, he emphasized that, thanks to this blow to drug trafficking,"more than 11,000 doses of cocaine were removed from circulation and will no longer reach the streets."
The police chief also explained that the operation "was carried out in collaboration with the GOC NEA group, made up of the Prefecture, Gendarmerie, Federal Police, and Airport Security Police," and that "all operational elements of Regional Unit 3 in Monte Carlo were deployed."
Personnel from the Misiones Police Command, Infantry, and Dangerous Drugs Unit worked on the scene:"Beyond the police's ingenuity, these are people specialized in the anti-narcotics field, in investigative techniques, who were trained not only here in the country but also abroad," Martínez emphasized.
Regarding the procedure itself, he explained that"the officers noticed the nervousness of the car's occupants and informed the Federal Prosecutor's Office, which ordered the search." Finally, Martínez highlighted the role of dogs in drug detection and the importance of their ongoing training."We have these dogs in various locations throughout the province, as part of our work team. They are part of the Special Operations Group, as is the case with the famous Cartucho, and now we have incorporated Vaina, among others," he concluded.
The Misiones Police Department emphasized that this operation follows recent seizures and represents a significant blow to drug trafficking in the province. So far in 2025, nearly 20 kilos of cocaine have been seized and more than 100 drug kiosks have been disrupted, reflecting the force's firm security policy and fight against organized crime.
