BUENOS AIRES: Argentine authorities on Wednesday arrested the owner and senior officials of two pharma laboratories after contaminated batches of medicinal fentanyl were linked to scores of deaths across the country.
President Javier Milei’s government estimated last week that around 100 people had died since May due to the tainted drug, though prosecutors have not confirmed a final toll. Investigations are underway to determine how many fatalities were caused by bacteria-infected supplies distributed to hospitals in four provinces, including Buenos Aires.
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Those taken into custody include Ariel Garcia Furfaro, owner of Ramallo and HLB Pharma laboratories, which were responsible for producing and marketing the contaminated batches. Arrest warrants were also issued for executives and technical managers of both firms.
Federal prosecutor Maria Laura Roteta described the scandal as “complex criminality with a high number of victims and an organized business conglomerate,” warning that the full extent of the outbreak has yet to be established.
