Over 100 Detained in Mar del Plata Drug Bust at Electronic Music Festival

More than 100 people were detained and a significant quantity of ecstasy pills, some featuring the faces of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and music producer Bizarrap, were seized during a police operation at an electronic music festival in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The bust, which took place at the entrance of the festival near the city’s iconic lighthouse, was carried out by the Mar del Plata Departmental Delegation for Illicit Drug Trafficking Investigations with the assistance of trained police dogs.

Authorities confiscated a variety of designer drugs, including ecstasy, crystal ice, tusi, LSD, cocaine, and marijuana. The ecstasy pills, in particular, drew attention for their unique designs, which included logos of well-known brands such as Quaker, Disney, Rolls Royce, UPS, Gucci, and Burger King. The total value of the seized drugs is estimated at 2.5 million pesos (approximately $2,900 USD).

According to police sources, the operation was part of the ‘Operativo de Sol a Sol,’ a broader initiative targeting drug trafficking at public events. The use of a drug-sniffing dog named Zidane proved instrumental in identifying individuals carrying illegal substances. Over 100 people were processed and handed over to the Functional Unit for Thematic Instruction on Narcotics, led by prosecutors Daniela Ledesma and Leandro Favaro.

In a related development, Uruguayan authorities detained 12 Argentinians accused of selling drugs at exclusive parties in Punta del Este. The arrests followed the discovery of tusi and ecstasy pills in a vehicle driven by a man and a woman. Subsequent raids on hotels in Maldonado led to the seizure of cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, tusi, cash, electronic devices, and vehicles. Uruguayan Interior Minister Nicolás Martinelli emphasized the ongoing investigation into the network’s international connections.

The incidents highlight the growing concern over the use of designer drugs at large-scale events and the increasing sophistication of drug trafficking operations in the region.