Police and security forces are active in the fight against narcotics. In recent years, police authorities have made seizures of significantly larger drug shipments from major regional narcotics producing countries. Argentine legislation prohibits diversion of precursor chemicals, but actual controls are weak. Government counternarcotics efforts, both in law enforcement and demand reduction, are hampered by restricted budgets and institutional weaknesses. Cooperation with USG authorities continues to be excellent.
Money laundering is a criminal offense when explicitly linked to narcotics activity.
In December 1995, the Argentine government hosted the Summit of the Americas money laundering ministerial which was chaired by U.S. Treasury Secretary Rubin. Status of Country Argentina is not a major drug producing or drug transshipment country. Nonetheless, Argentina does face a growing problem with illegal narcotics, both in the flow of drugs through the country and in domestic consumption. While still playing a secondary role in the international drug trade, the traffic in narcotics through the country, especially to Europe, has increased over the past few years. The government has an active counter- drug policy, and government officials are aware of the growing dimensions of the problem the country faces.