The Cerro Largo Prosecutor's Office is investigating a network of municipal officials in Isidoro Noblía accused of illegally selling driver's licenses. The scheme came to light after the new mayor, Christian Morel, took office. He received complaints and ordered the suspension of issuing licenses until further notice.
According to the investigation, the documents were issued in exchange for 15,000 Uruguayan pesos, without requiring applicants to take a driving test or written exam. In some cases, access to the booklet was simply obtained by contacting the intermediaries, which caused alarm in the community.
According to data maintained by the Public Prosecutor's Office, approximately 8,900 license plates were issued under this irregular system in the last three years. Of that total, 3,927 were for cars, vans, and small trucks, while approximately 1,000 were for road machinery and 1,195 for motorcycles.
The Prosecutor's Office decided to act ex officio after realizing the magnitude of the case. It is suspected that the network operated unchecked for years, endangering road safety and violating the trust of drivers who completed the procedure legally.
For now, judicial authorities continue to take statements and review documents. Mayor Morel insisted that the suspension of issuing licenses is temporary, until the situation is clarified and a transparent process is guaranteed.
The case has reignited the debate over controls in inland municipalities and the need to strengthen oversight mechanisms to prevent these types of practices.
