In Argentina, individuals involved in the cocaine case linked to the Russian embassy school have been arrested again.

This was reported by Current Time, as conveyed by Ukrinform.

It is noted that this action was taken following a request from prosecutor Abel Cordoba and the corresponding decision of the Supreme Court of Argentina.

The defense is attempting to appeal the re-arrest.

Former police officer Ivan Bliznyuk and ship mechanic Alexander Chikalo (both originally from Russia and residing in Argentina since the 1990s) were detained in late December 2024 and returned to Marcos Paz prison near Buenos Aires, where they had been held since February 2018.

In April 2022, Bliznyuk was sentenced to 7 years and 7 months in prison, while Chikalo received a 6-year sentence. By that time, they had been in custody for over four years. A few months after the verdict, both were released on parole.

According to the investigation, the former police officer and ship mechanic were part of an international criminal group that purchased, stored in the basement of the school at the Russian embassy in Buenos Aires, and attempted to smuggle nearly 400 kilograms of cocaine to Europe. Experts estimate that the drug shipment, packed in 12 suitcases, could have been worth about $3 million in Argentina and $39 million in Russia.

Four other individuals were also part of the criminal organization: entrepreneur Andriy Kovalchuk, former embassy facility manager Ali Abyanov, as well as businessmen Volodymyr Kalmykov and Ishtimir Khudjamov. In December 2021, they were sentenced in Moscow to prison terms ranging from 13 to 18 years.

As reported by Ukrinform, Dutch customs seized a batch of cocaine at the port of Vlissingen (Zeeland province).

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