Argentina court confirms sentence for drug lord controlling Bajo Flores

The Federal Chamber of Criminal Cassation has confirmed a 17.5-year prison sentence for Fernando Estrada Gonzales, known as ‘Piti’. He was identified as a key leader of a major criminal organization that controlled the Villa 1-11-14 area in Bajo Flores through violence and territorial dominance.

Prosecutors had previously sought a 24-year sentence, describing the group as one of the most significant drug trafficking organizations in Argentina due to its long-standing territorial control. Estrada Gonzales had been a fugitive for over 12 years before his surrender in April 2023. His brother, Marco Estrada Gonzales, was previously sentenced in 2020 for his role in the criminal enterprise.