Five arrested after 400kg of cocaine found in Russian embassy in Argentina
Argentinian authorities say the drugs had a street value of about US$61 million
A former Russian diplomatic official and an Argentine police officer were among those arrested in connection with a large cocaine seizure at the Russian embassy in Buenos Aires that prompted a year-long investigation into an international drug ring, officials said Thursday.
Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said the 389kg of cocaine were hidden inside luggage that was seized in December 2016. Authorities on Wednesday arrested Russian-Argentine citizens Alexander Chikalo, who is suspected of being in charge of the logistics, and police officer Ivan Blizniouk, who is accused of providing contacts to jump through customs controls.
The investigation began after Victor Koronelli, the Russian ambassador to Argentina, and three members of the Russian federal security service reported to Bullrich that they had suspicions about the diplomatic luggage found at a school that is annexed to the embassy.
