Argentina in uproar as thousands protest after the livestreamed torture and murder of three young women by the drug gang, police arrest fifth suspect as main perpetrator remains at large

Argentinians filled the streets of Buenos Aires on Saturday(September 27), calling for justice for Lara, Brenda, and Morena, three young women whose brutal torture and killings were broadcast live on social media. Families of the victims marched alongside groups to Parliament, carrying banners and placards bearing the women’s names and faces, in a protest that has gripped the nation. Dozens of people accompanied a funeral procession Friday to a cemetery outside Buenos Aires, where a private burial for Verdi and Del Castillo was held.

Most protesters marched peacefully during the demonstration, but some clashed with police, who forcefully pushed them back with batons and shields.

According to DW website, "Women must be protected more than ever," said Del Castillo's father, Leonel, at the protest.


"It was a narco-feminicide!" "Our lives are not disposable!" read signs and banners at the protest march.

Antonio del Castillo, grandfather of the murdered cousins, called the perpetrators "bloodthirsty," adding that "you wouldn't do what they did to them to an animal."

What happened?

Bodies of 20-year-old cousins Brenda del Castillo and Morena Verdi, along with 15-year-old Lara Gutiérrez, were discovered on September 24 in a yard in Florencio Varela, a southern suburb of Buenos Aires. The trio had been missing after being lured to a house under the pretense of attending a party. Investigations revealed that the women were brutally tortured and murdered by a drug gang, with the entire ordeal livestreamed on Instagram to a private group of 45 viewers. The perpetrators reportedly accused the victims of stealing cocaine and used the livestream as a public execution.

In the footage, a gang leader is heard saying: "This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me." Argentine media reports that the gang members subjected the victims to horrific acts, cutting off fingers, pulling out nails, beating, and suffocating them.

National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich announced the arrest of a fifth suspect, bringing the total to three men and two women. Authorities arrested the fifth suspect, who allegedly offered logistical support with a car, in the Bolivian border town of Villazón following joint police efforts. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has denied that the livestream took place on its platform. The alleged mastermind remains at large.

According to the New York Times website, Argentine President Javier Milei has vowed to treat cartel members as terrorists and pursue them aggressively.

Who were the three women?

Brenda del Castillo and Morena Verdi, both 20-year-old cousins from Buenos Aires, and 15-year-old Lara Gutiérrez were abducted and murdered after being lured to a house under the pretense of attending a party. Brenda and Morena were close family members, while Lara was a young teenager from the same community.