Argentina indicts former health officials over fatal fentanyl contamination

Federal Judge Ernesto Kreplak has indicted former national health officials Nélida Bisio, ex-head of ANMAT, and Gabriela Mantecón Fumadó, former director of INAME, in connection with a contaminated fentanyl investigation. The case involves the pharmaceutical companies HLB Pharma and Ramallo S. A., whose products are linked to approximately 90 to 100 deaths.

The judge classified both women as necessary participants in the crime of “adulteration of medicinal substances,” alleging they failed to exercise proper sanitary controls and omitted preventive sanctions despite knowing about irregularities in the pharmaceutical plants.

As part of the ruling, the court imposed a 500 million peso embargo on each official to cover potential indemnities. Additionally, both women are prohibited from leaving the country and face a general inhibition of assets. The investigation includes 14 total defendants as the judicial process moves toward the trial stage.