Villa 21-24: Buenos Aires barrio remains in grip of drug-trafficking

In Villa 21-24, located in the Barracas district on the border with Pompeya, nine drug gangs operate openly, all of which are involved in dealing. 

These include: ‘La Carbonilla,’ ‘La Paraguaya,’ ‘La Uruguaya,’ ‘La Banda de la Peruana,’ ‘El Clan Corvalán,’ ‘La de las Vías,’ ‘La de San Blas,’ ‘La de Alvarado’ and the gang linked to ‘Pequeño J,’ the alleged mastermind behind last week’s brutal triple murder. 

Each controls a portion of the territory, though Clan Corvalán is the most powerful criminal group in the area. With drug bunkers, street-level dealers ("soldaditos") and storage hubs, it has become one of the largest and most structured criminal organisations in the city.

Villa 21-24 is considered to be one of the most dangerous slums in Buenos Aires. It has an estimated population of 70,000 people, around 15 percent of whom are believed to be connected to the drug trade.

Bus routes 90 and 118 pass directly through the villa. Drivers of both lines report that it is often the local residents themselves who protect the buses and support the staff to ensure the service keeps running. This helps prevent passengers from having to take multiple connecting buses to enter or leave the area. Residents’ main concerns include the widespread use of 'paco' (a highly addictive cocaine paste), as well as the ongoing sale and street distribution of cocaine and other drugs.

According to the ongoing investigation into the triple femicide, ‘Pequeño J’ has his operational base in the heart of Villa 21-24. However, residents say they don’t recognise him as a local narco boss. 

“We found out through the media,” said one resident, requesting anonymity, stressing that only a few people in the area have had any direct contact with the Peruvian gang leader. 

Two police raids have already been carried out in Villa 21-24 in an effort to locate him, but both turned up nothing.

Néstor, a 19-year-old resident and member of the Misión Padre Pepe Catholic social organisation, said: "The villa is what it is – it’s a villa. I don’t think it’s a neighbourhood; it’s a shantytown, that’s what it really is. A place lacking in resources, forgotten by the state.”

He continued: “It’s a place where we see a lot of drugs, a lot of violence, but also humble people, hard-working people, people making an honest living, people just like us who are also trying to help others."

"It’s like any other neighbourhood where drugs consume our youth and destroy the lives of many families. From our organisations, we support one another and deal with life as it comes," he added.

According to Néstor, it was once common to come across dead bodies when gangs first began fighting for control of street corners. His mother still remembers the trauma of those days. Today, each gang manages its own zone, though tensions remain high.

Police presence in the area is minimal. When violence breaks out, the security forces don’t enter with patrol cars – only with quad bikes or motorcycles – limiting their ability to intervene effectively.

The villa has schools, but only in areas where gangs do not operate. As the criminal groups expand into more streets, they recruit increasingly younger soldaditos. It is estimated that drug use typically begins between the ages of 16 and 18 – one of the most pressing concerns for residents and community organisations alike.

– TIMES/PERFIL