Intermediate forces and the fight against drug trafficking: the case of Gendarmerie in Argentina

This article analyzes the dynamics of the intervention of an intermediate force such as the GendarmeriaNacional (GN) of Argentina in the fight against illegal drug trafficking. The main argument is that a high perception of insecurity and the legal limits to the involvement of the military in internal security have led to the increasing use of the GN. The article also identifies some of the key challenges as well as the limits faced by the intervention of the GN. In particular, the deployment of the GN in the northern provinces of Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Formosa, Corrientes and Misiones), as well as in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires will be examined. The article is based on extensive fieldwork in the northern provinces of Argentina that included 90 interviews with key actors.