Uruguay’s Interior Minister Says Death Threats Will Not Stop Him
URUGUAY · SECURITY
Key Facts
—What happened: Interior Minister Negro received new death threats in early September 2026, also targeting the chief prosecutor.
—How big it is: It is at least the third reported threat episode against Negro in 2026, after ones in July and August.
—What it means: Organized crime is pushing back against the government’s security crackdown, including prison reforms.
—The catch: Uruguay still has lower crime than most of Latin America, but homicides are at their highest since 2018.
—Who it hits: Negro and chief prosecutor Mónica Ferrero are the two named targets of the threats.
—What comes next: Investigations are ongoing, and Negro says he won’t change his approach despite the threats.
Uruguay’s top security official has received repeated death threats this year, but he says they won’t change how he does his job.
Who is Carlos Negro?
Carlos Negro is Uruguay’s minister of the Interior, the top official in charge of police and public security. He was appointed by President Yamandú Orsi, who took office in March 2025.
Negro has spent over 30 years in public service, mostly in security and justice roles. He is known for a tough stance on crime.
He has been the public face of the government’s response to a recent rise in violence.
The latest threat
On 3 September 2026 the chief prosecutor disclosed the threats to Parliament. Negro spoke publicly hours later.
Negro said the threats come from people linked to organized crime. The threats were made in calls to the 911 emergency line, the same channel used in the July case.
He called the threats an ugly thing to hear. He also said they were not the first in more than thirty years.
They would not change the course of his work, he said, nor that of his team.
What Negro said about the threats
Negro says the threats will not change his work. He told reporters it was not the first time in more than 30 years.
The threats, he said, do not change how he or his team run the ministry.
He said threats of this kind usually come from people linked to organized crime who have serious criminal records.
Previous threats in 2026
In July 2026, a man was detained for threatening Negro’s life during a call to the 911 emergency service. The man, 30, had no prior record and said he was under the influence of drugs.
In August prosecutors began investigating Erwin ‘Coco’ Parentini, a convicted prisoner, over a handwritten letter. Fiscal Graciela Perazza opened the investigation.
It threatened Negro and Ana Juanche, who heads Uruguay’s prison system. Parentini is in prison.
Why Negro is a target
Negro is leading the government’s fight against organized crime and prison gangs. He wants a national security plan that outlasts his term, targeting homicides and prison conditions.
Negro himself links the threats to organized crime, and says they come from people with serious criminal records. No suspects have been named in the September case.
Uruguay’s security picture
That is a 6.6% increase. The interior ministry calls it the highest first-half figure since 2018.
One outlet reported the comparison as reaching back to 2015 instead.
Three in four homicides were committed with firearms. The rise is driven by gang violence.
Negro has described a ‘chain of revenge’ between rival clans going back to 2023. In July 2026 there were ten homicides in a single week.
Regional context
Uruguay has long been considered one of the safest countries in Latin America, with lower homicide rates than many neighbours. But Negro himself has said the rate has jumped from about 5-6 per 100,000 people to around 11-12.
That is still below the rates reported by Brazil and Mexico. Uruguay remains one of the safer countries in the region.
Frente Amplio legislators said after the August threats that ‘democratic institutions will not yield to blackmail.’ Uruguay still has strong courts and low corruption by regional standards.
What happens next
Ferrero told Parliament the people behind the threats had been involved in aggravated murder cases. No names have been made public.
Negro says he will not be intimidated. He has the backing of President Orsi.
Orsi said Negro knows he is exposed but carries on. The open question is whether the government can turn the homicide trend around.
There is a reason threats against these two officials are taken seriously. In September 2025 Ferrero’s home was attacked with gunfire and explosives.
She told Parliament she came within 15 centimetres of death. Eleven people were implicated in that attack.
There is a reason threats against these two officials are taken seriously. In September 2025 Ferrero’s home was attacked with gunfire and explosives.
She told Parliament she came within 15 centimetres of death. Eleven people were implicated.
How a prosecutor became interior minister
Negro’s path to the Interior Ministry began in the justice system, not in politics. He spent decades as a prosecutor before taking the job.
President Orsi chose him in 2025 to lead the ministry. His job is to oversee the national police and set security policy for the whole country.
What the ministry has been doing on prisons and drug routes
Negro has made prison reform a priority, targeting criminal groups that operate from inside. The August threat from a jailed convict shows how much resistance that work faces.
He has also focused on drug trafficking routes, which fuel much of the gang violence. The ministry has increased police operations in areas where clans fight over territory.
How the investigation into the threats is going
Prosecutors are investigating the latest threats against Negro and Ferrero. Ferrero told Parliament the callers had earlier murder cases against them.
The July case led to one arrest, though the final outcome is not yet public. The August letter from Parentini is under separate investigation.
The INR said it would sanction Parentini. The criminal investigation has not reached a court decision.
What this does and does not tell a visitor or a resident
For visitors, the threats against a minister do not mean the streets are unsafe for you. Most violence is tied to criminal groups, not random attacks on foreigners.
For residents, the rising homicide numbers are a real concern, but Uruguay remains safer than many neighbours. The government’s response to these threats will show how seriously it takes the problem.
Uruguay’s prison system and who Ana Juanche is
Uruguay’s prison system is run by the National Institute of Rehabilitation, known as INR. Ana Juanche is its director, and she has been a target alongside Negro.
The INR manages prisons and tries to rehabilitate inmates. Criminal groups inside prisons still run operations, which is why reform is urgent.
The August threat came from a prisoner, showing the challenge. Juanche and Negro are working to break the power of these prison gangs.
What the ministry has changed on policing and drug routes
Negro’s ministry has increased police operations in areas where drug clans fight. This has led to more seizures and arrests, though exact numbers are not public.
He has also pushed for better intelligence sharing between police units. The goal is to disrupt drug routes before violence erupts.
These changes are part of his national security plan. The plan aims to reduce homicides and improve prison conditions over the long term.
How the threats are being investigated and what the prosecution service does
Uruguay’s prosecution service, the Fiscalía, handles criminal investigations. It is independent from the police and reports to the courts.
Prosecutors are now looking into the September threats against Negro and Ferrero. They have not yet named any suspects in that case.
In the July case, the suspect was arrested and handed to prosecutors. The final court decision is still pending.
The August letter from Parentini is also under investigation. Prison authorities plan to sanction him separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Negro?
Negro is Uruguay’s minister of the Interior, responsible for police and public security. He was appointed by President Yamandú Orsi in 2025.
What threats has he received?
He has received death threats in July, August, and September 2026. The latest also targeted the chief prosecutor.
Why is he a target?
He is leading the government’s crackdown on organized crime and prison gangs. His hard-line stance has made him a target.
How has he responded?
He says the threats won’t change his work or his team’s approach. He has been in public service for over 30 years.
What is Uruguay’s security situation?
Homicides are at their highest since 2018, with 195 in the first half of 2026. But Uruguay still has lower crime than many regional neighbours.
Connected Coverage
We have also reported on Bolivia Sends Its IMF Package to Congress.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error
Read More from The Rio Times