The justice system is investigating a prescription forgery network following the hacking of millions of members
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Tiziano Palacios Arriondo, 21 years old, was prosecuted for using stolen PAMI data to sell prescriptions for psychotropic drugs. According to the judiciary, the young man from Córdoba allegedly set up an illegal network with medications such as Xanax, Valium, and Clonazepam. He was arrested and is currently being held at the Bouwer prison for forgery, fraud, and concealment.
The investigation revealed that he accessed confidential information through the dark web, following the 2023 hack of the PAMI system. With that data, he forged medical prescriptions between professionals and patients, and then sold the drugs through intermediaries. Transactions were carried out in cryptocurrencies or transfers linked to his circle.
Among the seized items are electronic devices that could contain further evidence about the network and its members. The judiciary keeps that he used forged digital ID cards to pass off third parties as relatives or caregivers. His mother, a nurse and pharmacist, was acquitted after her involvement in the events was deemed minimal.
El hacker accedió a la información confidencial a través de la dark web
An ongoing plot
The case also reactivated the file linked to the hacker group Rhysida, responsible for the cyberattack on PAMI in 2023. That investigation had been closed twice, but was reopened after connections were found between the data theft and drug trafficking. Authorities are seeking to dismantle the network and pursue other responsibilities.
The director of PAMI, Esteban Leguizamo, warned that "there could be internal complicity in the leak of data from the agency's IT system". The official requested international cooperation to move the case forward and strengthen data protection mechanisms. He also warned about the impact these frauds have on retirees and members.
The federal judiciary is continuing the investigation to determine whether there were other beneficiaries or active participants in the network. The case has put health and security agencies on alert regarding the vulnerability of public databases. The case will continue in the investigative stage with the analysis of digital evidence and key testimonies.
