City Government Launches All-Out War on Stolen Phone Trade
In a decisive strike against urban crime, the head of Buenos Aires City Government, Jorge Macri, signed decree 295/26 on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, declaring a 90-day emergency on the sale and repair of used cellphones throughout the city. The goal is to dismantle the networks that feed phone theft and resell devices through the formal commercial circuit.
“The mafia of stolen cellphones is over. We declare the emergency to come down on them with the full weight of the law. Let it be clear: whoever buys a stolen phone to disassemble and sell its parts is not a merchant, but a criminal who is part of a mafia network,” Macri said via his social media.
Lightning Operation in Once: 10 Stores Closed and 75 Phones Seized
The measure was not just on paper. On Wednesday, August 19, the Government Control Agency (AGC) and the City Police carried out a large-scale operation in the Once neighborhood, one of the areas identified as high-risk. The results were overwhelming:
- 10 stores closed and one commercial gallery sealed.
- 75 mobile phones seized, along with tools and illegal spare parts.
- Raids at Corrientes 2100, Junín 3003, the “La Juanita” Gallery (Pueyrredón 9), the “La Internacional” Gallery (Corrientes 2330), and the “La Recova” Gallery (Azcuénaga and Pueyrredón).
In the “La Recova” Gallery, store 47 was closed after 22 phones were seized—including an iPhone, a Motorola G42, and a Samsung—all with active theft complaints filed with ENACOM (the national communications regulator). Also confiscated were 79 modules and soldering tools.
The Case That Broke the Story: Customer Charged with Stolen Phone
During the procedure, a woman arrived to pick up a phone she had left for repair. The device had an active arrest warrant. The courts ordered the indictment of the customer and the store manager, a 44-year-old Peruvian citizen. This case clearly exposes the illegal circuit: theft → disassembly → resale of parts in licensed stores.
Key point: the decree requires businesses to prove the legitimate origin of every device, component, or spare part. Those who cannot demonstrate provenance will be shut down immediately.
High-Risk Zones: Where New Stores Will Not Be Allowed
The decree establishes a priority intervention map with four high-criticality zones in the first phase:
- Retiro – Microcentro
- Balvanera – Once
- Liniers – Western Border
- Chacarita – Villa Crespo
In these areas, and while the emergency lasts, new licenses for used phone sales and repair shops are suspended, as are transfers of existing licenses and expansions of category or area.
Traceability Registry: The Ultimate Control
The emergency is just the first step. Decree 295/26 creates a traceability registry for used phone repair and sale activities. The system will allow individual identification of establishments, devices, and transactions, making it harder for stolen phones to enter the formal commercial circuit.
Buenos Aires Justice Minister, Gabino Tapia, summarized the spirit of the measure: “If you steal a cellphone in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, forget about reselling it. The business of theft and resale is over.”
Context: A Broader Urban Order Plan That Has Already Freed 670 Blocks
The offensive against the stolen phone mafia is part of a wider urban order plan that Macri's government has been implementing since December 2023. Notable actions include:
- The eviction of street vendors from 670 blocks of parks, squares, and commercial sidewalks.
- Control operations at the city limits and major transport hubs.
- The recovery of more than 900 usurped properties returned to their owners.
- Strict control of new constructions in neighborhoods like Villa 31 and La Carbonilla.
Macri's message was direct and challenging: “We broke up 10 stolen cellphone dens in Once. I repeat in case these mafiosos didn't get it: either stop selling stolen phones or we won't leave a single store standing. Law and order.”
Sources: Cadena 3 | Infobae | Buenos Aires Ciudad | Perfil