3.3 kg of marijuana seized from bus on Route 38 in La Rioja
Gendarmería Nacional officers seized 3.294 kg of marijuana from an unclaimed bag on a San Salvador de Jujuy to Mendoza bus at kilometre 434 of National Route 38 in La Rioja. The Federal Court of La Rioja ordered the seizure, identification of the drivers and a passenger list, with no arrests reported and the bus allowed to continue.
🇦🇷 Kilometre 434, National Route 38, La Rioja · Argentina
Gendarmes of Grupo Talamuyuna, under Squadron 58 La Rioja, seized a marijuana
shipment being carried on a passenger bus.[1]The checkpoint was at kilometre
434 of National Route 38.[1]The bus was travelling the San Salvador de Jujuy
to Mendoza route.[1]Officers found a black handbag with orange details inside
the bus.[1]The bag lay between seats 19 and 20, both of which were
unoccupied.[1]A strong marijuana smell led officers to open the bag before
witnesses.[1]
The bag held three packages wrapped in ochre tape.[1]Field Narcotest testing
confirmed the contents as cannabis sativa (marijuana) weighing 3.294 kg.[1]The Federal Court of La Rioja ordered full seizure of the drug, identification
of the drivers and a detailed passenger list, and allowed the bus to continue
its route.[1]The security ministry’s account says the operation was part of
Plan Verano prevention work on tourist routes during the high season.[2]Mendoza Today confirms officers found three ochre-taped packages inside the bag
after the search.[3]No arrest or detention was reported; the published orders
mention only seizure, identification of the drivers and listing the passengers.[1]
Photos and video
Gendarmerie photo published with the report of the marijuana seizure on National Route 38.Photo details
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Source: Argentina.gob.arGendarmerie photo published with the ministry account of the 3.294 kg seizure from the long-distance bus.Photo details
The incident date is inferred as 12 January 2026 from 'ayer' in the 13 January official report; the Mendoza Today account dated 14 January says the procedure took place 'el pasado martes' (13 January), a one-day discrepancy, so the date is approximate.
No arrest, detention, charge or named suspect was reported; drivers were only identified and passengers listed, and the bus continued its route.
The owner of the bag was not identified and no court outcome beyond the seizure and passenger-list orders was reported.
The official pages carry several handout photos with empty captions and no credits; two distinct official files are listed and the Mendoza Today image is omitted as likely the same handout.
The Mendoza Today account largely reproduces the official statement with one added detail on chain of custody; no fully independent second investigation account was found.
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Cleaning staff found a package of marijuana on a long-distance bus that had arrived at the Chajarí terminal in Entre Ríos after leaving Paraná, and the drivers called the police. Officers of the Federación department drug division tested and seized the substance and left the case with the prosecutor's office, with no one arrested.
Chaco police securing a woman's belongings from a room she rented in Resistencia found two cannabis seedlings, marijuana flowers and indoor growing equipment, and anti-drug officers' field tests were positive for marijuana. The woman was detained after another clash with the owner and released on the order of the anti-drug prosecutor's office, which kept the items but not the cash.
