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Argentina detains former drug regulators over contaminated fentanyl deaths
Federal judge Ernesto Kreplak ordered a raid on the Ministry of Health and the detention of former ANMAT head Nélida Agustina Bisio and former INAME director Gabriela Mantecón Fumado. The investigation concerns fentanyl batches produced by HLB Pharma Group and Laboratorios Ramallo that were contaminated with Klebsiella pneumoniae and Ralstonia pickettii. The contaminated product has been linked to at least 114 deaths and more than 50 serious injuries across Argentina. The judge also ordered the Ministry to provide documentation of personnel entries and exits for 2023‑2025. The case began in May 2025 after infections were detected at the Hospital Italiano de La Plata, and the owner of the two laboratories, Ariel García Furfaro, is being prosecuted as a co‑author of the adulteration crime.
Entities
ANMAT · Ariel García Furfaro · Ernesto Kreplak · Gabriela Mantecón Fumado · HLB Pharma · HLB Pharma Group · Laboratorios Ramallo · Mario Lugones · Ministry of Health (Argentina) · Nélida Agustina Bisio
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 11 SOURCES] Judge Ernesto Kreplak presides over Federal Court No. 3 in La Plata. labandadiario.com · www.laplata1.com · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · chacodiapordia.com · elciudadanoweb.com · +6 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] The contaminated fentanyl was produced by HLB Pharma Group and Laboratorios Ramallo. labandadiario.com · www.laplata1.com · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · chacodiapordia.com · elciudadanoweb.com · +11 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] A raid was conducted on Argentina's Ministry of Health by order of federal judge Ernesto Kreplak. labandadiario.com · www.laplata1.com · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · chacodiapordia.com · elciudadanoweb.com · +11 more
- [DISPUTED] At least 114 deaths have been linked to the contaminated fentanyl. www.laplata1.com · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · chacodiapordia.com · elfuertediario.com.ar · fmimpacto107.com.ar · +11 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] The Ministry of Health was ordered to provide documentation on personnel entries and exits for 2023‑2025. labandadiario.com · www.laplata1.com · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · chacodiapordia.com · elciudadanoweb.com · +11 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] Nélida Agustina Bisio and Gabriela Mantecón Fumado were detained. labandadiario.com · www.laplata1.com · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · chacodiapordia.com · elciudadanoweb.com · +6 more
- [DISPUTED] More than 50 patients suffered serious injuries from the contaminated fentanyl. labandadiario.com · www.laplata1.com · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · chacodiapordia.com · elciudadanoweb.com · +11 more
- [DISPUTED] Ariel García Furfaro, owner of HLB Pharma Group and Laboratorios Ramallo, is being prosecuted as a co‑author of the fentanyl adulteration crime. labandadiario.com · www.laplata1.com · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · chacodiapordia.com · elciudadanoweb.com · +11 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] The investigation began in May 2025 after infections were detected at the Hospital Italiano de La Plata. elfuertediario.com.ar · fmimpacto107.com.ar · labandadiario.com · www.laplata1.com · mendoza24.com.ar · +10 more
- [DISPUTED] Judge Ernesto Kreplak ordered the detention of Nélida Agustina Bisio and Gabriela Mantecón Fumado. elfuertediario.com.ar · fmimpacto107.com.ar · labandadiario.com · mendoza24.com.ar · panorama24.com.ar · +10 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] Nélida Agustina Bisio resigned from ANMAT in January 2026 and Gabriela Mantecón Fumado left INAME in August 2025. elfuertediario.com.ar · fmimpacto107.com.ar · labandadiario.com · www.laplata1.com · mendoza24.com.ar · +10 more