Facundo Leal, former ARSAT head, indicted for drug trafficking

The Federal Chamber of Criminal Cassation has confirmed the indictment of Facundo Leal, the former head of the state telecommunications company ARSAT. Leal, who held leadership roles during the administrations of Alberto Fernández and Javier Milei, faces charges of possession of narcotics for the purpose of commercialization.

The decision follows a raid on Leal’s apartment in Palermo, which was part of a broader corruption investigation. During the search, authorities seized drugs and 2.4 million US dollars in cash. The court rejected the defense's appeal, noting that the previous rulings by the first-instance judge and the Federal Chamber did not show evidence of federal issues or arbitrariness.

Leal, a founder of ARSAT, also recently led the ORSNA (the airport regulatory body) before returning to ARSAT as a permanent employee. The investigation stems from a 2024 case involving the theft of ARSAT equipment, which expanded into inquiries regarding potential bribery and illicit funds.