Blow to drug trafficking: Córdoba, on the fentanyl route in shipments

A federal investigation uncovered a network that diverted dangerous drugs using parcel delivery services, with direct links in Córdoba. The case came to light in April 2023 when the Gendarmerie found 500 vials of fentanyl hidden in a shipment on Route 12 in Misiones. That discovery made it possible to reconstruct a scheme active since 2020 that reached different provinces, including the capital of Córdoba.

The organization used at least five courier companies to ship the drugs, hiding the packages under false identities and forged documentation. The route started in Misiones and reached Buenos Aires City, with intermediate stops such as Córdoba and Jujuy. Federal judicial authorities warned that the substances traveled without control or health traceability until they were intercepted.

A total of 14 raids were carried out in different provinces, where key elements for the case were seized. Among the items confiscated are nearly 8 million pesos (17,637 pounds) in cash, dollars, cell phones, and documents regarding the movement of fentanyl. The latest searches were conducted this very week, judicial sources confirmed.

Who are the detainees

Among the six detainees are two pharmaceutical sales representatives from Posadas who are believed to be the main individuals responsible for the trafficking. Their partners were also arrested along with an employee who was in charge of dispatching the packages and an esthetician from Jujuy. The group also included a couple residing in Buenos Aires City who are believed to be linked to a laboratory.

All those involved face charges of illicit association and aggravated drug trafficking, in addition to the sale of dangerous medications. The seriousness of the case lies in the fact that several of the substances are restricted to hospital use and require special authorization. Authorities emphasized that this is an illegal market that endangers public health.

Among the seized medications are opioids such as fentanyl, remifentanil, and morphine, all extremely potent. There were also anesthetics, anxiolytics, and oncology drugs that can't circulate outside the healthcare system. The judiciary is investigating whether there were more recipients and whether clinics or other fronts were used to facilitate the operations.

Córdoba, in the medical drug circuit

The passage of shipments through Córdoba confirms the logistical importance the province has for the internal trafficking of drugs. Although no one was arrested in Córdoba territory, it was documented that the parcels usually passed through the region. The presence of multiple transport companies facilitates covert circulation without effective controls.

The case shows that drug trafficking is not limited only to traditional illegal substances but also to regulated medications. Fentanyl, in particular, is a drug that has triggered international alerts due to its misuse and high lethality. The investigation seeks to determine whether part of the shipment was sold or distributed in Córdoba.

The use of false documentation and the ease of moving vials by land expose failures in the oversight chain. The case will serve as a precedent for future reforms in the transportation of controlled medications.