Federal justice authorities in Argentina conducted 27 raids targeting leaders of leftist picketers organizations. The raids were prompted by numerous complaints from citizens alleging extortion and blackmail by these organizations. The complaints accused the groups of threatening individuals who refused to participate in protests against President Javier Milei.
Picketers in Argentina are leftist social organizations known for their protests against the government, often using violent tactics. Some groups are linked to far-left parties, while others have established their own political parties in recent years. The current investigation, led by Argentine Federal Judge Sebastián Casanello and Prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita, was initiated following a formal request from the government.
The investigation was triggered by a hotline established in December by the government to report threats made by picketer leaders. Since then, over 13,000 calls have been made to the hotline, leading to 924 formal probes. The complaints included instances of citizens being coerced to participate in protests, pay fees, and even sell government-provided food to benefit the picketer groups.
The raids targeted leaders of three prominent picketer groups: The Workers’ Pole, an affiliate of the Trotskyist Workers’ Party, the Standing Barrios, and the Organizations in Struggle Front. The investigations revealed a complex system of control used by picketers to coerce individuals into compliance with their demands.
The authorities confiscated millions of pesos, along with other evidentiary items, during the raids. The money obtained through extortion was allegedly channeled through cooperatives for an unknown purpose. The investigation also uncovered a tiered structure within the picketer groups, where beneficiaries of social assistance programs were required to perform tasks and participate in protests to maintain their benefits.
Overall, the raids and ongoing investigations aim to uncover the extent of the alleged extortion and coercion by picketer organizations in Argentina. The findings have raised concerns about the misuse of government resources and the exploitation of vulnerable citizens for political gain.
