Piñero prison inmates charged with operating drug ring

Two inmates at the Piñero Penitentiary Unit No. 11 in Argentina, Ezequiel Romero and Axel Herrera, have been charged with operating a drug trafficking ring from within the prison. The investigation, led by Prosecutor Brenda Debiasi, alleges the group operated a drug bunker between April and September of this year.

The scheme reportedly involved two women outside the prison, Natalia G. and Yamila R., who facilitated the entry of narcotics. One method allegedly involved using pregnant women during visits to smuggle substances into the facility. Additionally, the group is accused of managing the collection of drug debts from the families of other inmates, often using threats to ensure payment.

Axel Herrera is also a suspect in the March 2024 murder of bus driver Marcos Daloia. While Romero and Herrera remain in custody, Judge María de los Ángeles Granato has ordered preventive detention for Natalia G., while Yamila R. was released under alternative measures.