Mercedes Rus on Aconcagua Radio: "Rural security is a priority, and we're adding technology to patrol."

Within the framework of the Livestock Festival in General Alvear, Mendoza's Minister of Security , Mercedes Rus , spoke about the security situation in the province's rural areas. She stated that this is a priority for the provincial government and that specific strategies have been developed to address the challenges posed by the region's production geography.

"Everything in the productive area poses very specific challenges, due to the large expanses of land, the boundaries, and because there are areas where a patrol vehicle cannot be brought in," the official explained in a radio interview. Faced with this reality, she emphasized that she works with a specialized force : "The Rural Police are a fundamental support force, because they have the necessary resources and understand the reality of each location."

One of the strong points of the Ministry's strategy is the incorporation of technology , especially drones . "The province of Mendoza has 12 drones and also has the largest number of certified pilots in the country. Not only are they certified, but they maintain it with flight hours," Rus explained. He explained that these devices are used especially in night patrols , where visibility is limited, and allow for the detection of suspicious movements in hard-to-reach areas.

However, Rus acknowledged that aerial surveillance must be accompanied by a response on the ground . "From a drone, you can see how olives are being stolen, but then you have to arrive in time with mobile devices and physical personnel," he said. In this regard, he emphasized that San Rafael is the department with the most police officers , and that in 2023, 70 new officers were added to the district areas. He also highlighted the expansion of the Tetra communications system , which currently covers 85% of the province: "The pilot monitoring can communicate directly with the police from any location."

He also announced that the government is preparing a new tender to incorporate more vans for rural areas. "Many of these are going south because they will be used to patrol large areas. Using a vehicle here isn't the same as using it in other regions," he emphasized.

Another area of ​​work he mentioned was inter-institutional coordination with agencies such as the Livestock Secretariat and municipalities, especially in addressing crimes like cattle rustling and illegal slaughter . "We conduct special operations, like the one we carried out this week in the East. This is also important in the South," he noted.

Finally, the minister emphasized the relationship with the private sector : "A dialogic relationship between the police and operational actors in the sector is essential and is a prerequisite. This strengthens our focus on local issues."

With a comprehensive approach that combines police presence, technology, inter-institutional collaboration, and dialogue with producers , the Ministry of Security seeks to ensure that Mendoza's agricultural and livestock development is not affected by crime.

Listen to the full article here, and you can listen to the radio live at www.aconcaguaradio.com