Preventive detention was issued to union members accused of extorting fishing businessmen in Chubut

Five members of the board of directors of the United Argentine Port Union (SUPA) of Chubut will have to face charges of extortion, a crime that carries effective sentences of 5 to 10 years in prison. It is because the provincial government, headed by Ignacio Torresdenounced them for ecocide and extortion of fishing businessmen.

In the last days of December, the province of Chubut was affected by the loss of 468,000 kg. of shrimp due to “a false joint conflict that covered up a network of corruption and extortion that generated million-dollar losses for the industry,” according to a statement. Given the million-dollar losses caused by this situation, the government of Chubut and the fishing businessmen filed the corresponding complaints with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The complaints targeted Alexis Gutierrez, Claudio Villarroel, Bruno Vega, Juan Inalef and Juan Zambrano for extorting and demanding money from businessmen between August and September of last year in exchange for not interrupting port activity with forceful measures. “The corruption network was documented with compelling evidence, such as WhatsApp messages, phone calls and bank transfers to personal accounts, where SUPA members were involved,” they said.

After the judicial intervention, Rawson’s attorney general, Florencia Gomez, sentenced the five unionists to one month of house arrest. “Prawns had to be thrown away, that is criminal. That is why we told the prosecutor to file the corresponding complaints. “Whoever strikes again and that’s why a shrimp rots is going to have to respond to Justice,” Governor Torres warned.

The prosecution is also evaluating the possibility of adding the charge of illicit association given the existence of a union mafia that used the union to enrich itself personally. “This important blow against corruption in the fishing industry demonstrates the commitment of the provincial government and the judicial authorities in the fight against impunity and crime,” the provincial government stated.

In that sense, Torres met today with the Minister of National Security, Patricia Bullrichto promote an agenda focused on three axes: the installation of scanners for drug trafficking control in the ports of Chubut, the creation of a joint command in Trelew with federal forces, and to make strong progress against the seizures that exist today in the National Park “The Alerces”.

The fishing industry, along with the oil industry, is the one that generates the most economic activity in Chubut and, above all, the one that provides the most jobs. In the province they estimate that it occupies about 16,000 workers directly, between stevedores, sailors, captain, machinists who operate the ships, transporters and workers in the processing plants.

At the end of December 2023, the new leadership of the SUPA demanded a 160% salary update to companies in the sector, grouped in the Chamber of the Yellow Fleet of Chubut (CAFACh). As he was able to find out Infobaestevedores receive a monthly remuneration of $9,000,000. However, it should be noted that They work four months a year, which is how long the fishing season lasts. Furthermore, it is a heavy activity, which involves a lot of physical effort and work at night or early in the morning.

The CAFACh businessmen had expressed their disagreement with the request to update the SUPA and maintained that they could not afford the required remuneration. The dockers threatened to paralyze the activity and, in effect, they did. The provincial government estimates that The union strikes generated losses of 125 million dollars and 5 million dollars due to the prawns that rotted on cargo ships.

The Minister of National Security, Patricia Bullrich, Through his social networks he gave his support to the governor of Chubut, Ignacio Torres, for the complaint that he carried out, together with fishing businessmen, against the union members who carried out the forceful measure. “You don’t negotiate with extortionists“said the national official.

And I add: “The Argentina of tightening is over. We are not going to allow the interests of the Argentine people to be subjected to the will of the mafias. All my support for Governor Ignacio Torres”.

Given this gesture by the Minister of Security, the provincial leader thanked her for her support and reaffirmed his commitment to continue with similar measures. “We are not going to allow the gangsters to win in Chubut. In our province, extortion and pressure are over. Thank you Patricia Bullrich”said Ignacio Torres.