Menocchio family members questioned in Argentine narcotics probe

Members of the Menocchio family, including Lucas and Luciano Menocchio, Anahí Aranda, and the mother of the Menocchio brothers, have undergone questioning in a federal narcotics investigation known as ‘Caso Berlín’ in Rawson, Argentina.

Prosecutors suspect the accused maintained periodic visits with Luis Raúl ‘Gusano’ Menocchio at Federal Penitentiary Unit 6, potentially using false identities to facilitate the movement of cash to other provinces. The defense has rejected these claims, arguing that there is no material evidence linking the family members to criminal activity.

To support their defense, lawyers presented commercial documentation, including social statutes and financial statements, to demonstrate the legitimacy of the defendants' business activities. The mother of the brothers also testified that she has been divorced from Luis Raúl Menocchio for over three decades and maintains no contact with him, aiming to decouple the family ties from the criminal allegations. A judge has ten days to determine whether to indict the individuals, dismiss the charges, or find a lack of merit.