At the moment, authorities in Argentina are dealing with a truly shocking case. The murders of these three young women is horrific on many levels. They suspect drug trafficking is behind the increase in violence in the country. Disappearances and Murders Brenda del Castillo, 20, Morena Verdi, 20, Lara Gutiérrez, 15 were reported missing on Friday. They were tricked to a villa on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, where they were told they would earn US $300 for participating in what was defined as a “sex party.”
Then things took a steep turn when traffickers abducted the women. They suffered extreme and brutal torture, and at least part of that torture was broadcast live to 45 people among a private Instagram group. Investigators say the tortures and murders were organized in retaliation. According to them, it all began when one of the women was accused of stealing a drug trafficker’s package of cocaine.
Javier Alonso, security minister of Buenos Aires province, threw down the gauntlet. He argued that the killings were meant to make an example of them, sending a message. He remarked, “They were trying to send a message: this is what happens to those who steal drugs from me.” This latest incident is part of a growing trend of criminal organizations worldwide preying on society’s most vulnerable populations to further project their power and influence.
Brenda del Castillo, Morena Verdi and Lara Gutiérrez were found dead and buried in plastic bags, authorities announced this week. They discovered them in front of the home in which those heinous crimes were committed. British authorities today arrested two men and two women associated with this shocking crime. Among those being detained are two people who allegedly assisted in covering up the murders.
Brenda del Castillo’s mother expressed her grief and anger over her daughter’s death. “They took her away from me and I want them to pay for what they did. I want everybody to pay,” she lamented. Her words ring true for countless families caught up in the violence that has come to accompany drug trafficking through Argentina.
The alleged leader of the criminal group involved in this incident hails from Villa 1-11-14, a marginalized neighborhood known for its high levels of crime and drug-related activity. While law enforcement agencies are further investigating, the case marks a deeper reality of the tragic challenges posed by drug trafficking within Argentina.
As investigative journalist Germán de los Santos explained, the message that such cruelty sends is far more damaging than the actual physical effects. “When narcos use this level of cruelty – not attacking each other or the police but targeting vulnerable victims – it means that something is changing and that criminal leaders are trying to show off their power, which is very worrying,” he noted.
The growing toll of drug trafficking on families and neighborhoods has sounded a clarion call to community leaders, civil rights activists and constituents across the country. One anonymous activist pointed out the difficulties faced by those opposing drug traffickers: “Without any resources, it’s very difficult to compete with what the narcos are offering.” It was the Catholic diocese of San Justo that raised these alarms most clearly. They pointed out that drug mafias have usurped much of this territory, penetrating communities and poisoning the youth.