Assailants Attack Argentine Radio Journalist's Wife to His Exposes on Drugs

Argentine journalist Sergio Hurtado firmly believed that the two assailants who entered his home last Friday were out to end his life because of his expose on illegal drugs.

The Associated Press said in a report published by Yahoo Sports that the two men stole money from the journalist, sexually abused his wife and threatened to kill him.

They also reportedly instructed the radio journalist to keep his mouth shut when it came to drug issues.

Breaking the kitchen window of Hurtado's house, the two men were able to enter the residence at around 4 a.m., and immediately proceeded to the bedroom.

One of them reportedly held a gun, while the other wielded a big knife. The intruders admitted to the couple that they were sent to kill him, but did not proceed with their plan -- instead, they abused Hurtado's wife.

"I felt so helpless in not being able to protect my family. We are lucky that they didn't kill us. But if they were put in front of me now, I would want to kill them," the journalist told the Associated Press.

Mexican website Clarin said that one of the children of the couple, who was also inside the house during the attack, managed to call the police and report the break-in.

Authorities have already arrested the two suspects named as Miguel Angel Parana, 18, and Santiago Leiva, 21, and recovered most of the items taken from the journalist's house. They remain in police custody while investigation on the case in ongoing.

The FM Radio Luna owner told the Associated Press that he has noticed the illegal trade of drugs in the tourist city of San Antonio de Areco, where about 30,000 people visit daily.

He added that few arrests have been made on the drug traders themselves, so he would usually report on the illegal substances, mostly cocaine, distributed on the streets.

"The local government stopped buying ads (from the radio station), and I started to feel pressure from officials," Hurtado added.

He noted that after the incident, authorities have provided them with police protection.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has condemned the attack and called on the government for swift action due to the events. 

"The Argentine government must prosecute those responsible for this heinous crime to the full extent of the law," said CPJ senior program coordinator Carlos Lauría.

He added that authorities must keep Hurtado's family safe and "guarantee that the journalist can continue his work without fear of retribution."