OIJ director warns budget cuts increase vulnerability to crime

Michael Soto, acting director of the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), has warned that proposed budget cuts for 2027 will leave the judicial police in a state of “very high vulnerability.” During a hearing with the Legislative Assembly's Treasury Commission, Soto noted that these reductions come despite the OIJ's recent successes in apprehending major organized crime leaders.

The proposed budget plan for the Judiciary includes a reduction of ¢10,000 million and a freeze of approximately ¢30,000 million, subject to specific budgetary compliance rules. Deputy Ángela Aguilar indicated that the OIJ specifically faces a cut of roughly ¢3,500 million. Soto highlighted the human cost of crime, noting that since 2023, there have been 280 collateral homicide victims.

Additionally, Soto addressed the high costs associated with destroying seized drugs. While the OIJ possesses an incinerator donated by the United States, the equipment frequently requires expensive repairs due to damage caused by chemicals like acetone and cocaine during the burning process. Consequently, the agency must sometimes hire private companies, which charge approximately ¢1 million per ton to incinerate marijuana, or utilize U.S. government aircraft to transport drugs to cities like Miami for disposal.