Argentine officials charged over tainted fentanyl deaths

A judge in Argentina charged two former medical officials Tuesday over their alleged involvement in contaminated fentanyl linked to at least 90 deaths in 2025.

The defendants are Nelida Bisio, who headed Argentina's drug regulatory agency ANMAT during the crisis, and Gabriela Mantecon Fumado, former head of a drug institute linked to ANMAT. A court ruling identified both as “necessary participants” in the altered fentanyl.

Judge Ernesto Kreplak said both defendants were aware of “significant irregularities” at HLB Pharma and Laboratorios Ramallo, the companies that manufactured and marketed the drug. He said they did not carry out measures they were required to take, allowing the adulterated fentanyl to be sold.

The case emerged in May 2025 after a hospital in La Plata, south of Buenos Aires, detected the same bacteria in fentanyl vials and in infected patients.

Thirteen businesspeople and managers from the two laboratories have already been indicted. Kreplak said Bisio and Mantecon Fumado will remain free during the proceedings.