Federal authorities in Argentina seized a large cache of prescription medications illegally sold at an open-air market in González Catán, according to an investigation led by the Federal Court No. 1 of Morón.
Stolen Red Crates Spark Federal Raids in González Catán
The operation, executed by the Federal Police, targeted street stalls in the La Matanza district following a formal complaint filed by a major pharmaceutical distributor. Investigators recovered hundreds of boxes and blister packs of painkillers, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and dermatological creams valued at an estimated 18 million pesos.
Covert Surveillance Traces Stolen Inventory to Street Stalls
The case began when the legal representative of a recognized pharmaceutical firm reported spotting distinctive red plastic crates—used exclusively by the company for transporting and storing medical products—at the González Catán street market.
According to the Federal Police’s Division of Crimes Against Public Health, the complaint triggered extensive field operations. Detectives conducted covert surveillance and detailed observations to confirm that multiple vendors were openly offering prescription-only drugs without requiring valid medical prescriptions.
Four Storage Facilities Raided as Nine Suspects Detained
Following the field observations, Federal Judge Martín Ramos authorized a series of raids across four properties located in González Catán, Libertad, and Virrey del Pino. Investigators identified these locations as primary storage facilities used to stockpile medicines before street-level distribution.
Police detained nine adult Argentine nationals during the raids—six women and three men. Authorities placed the suspects and the confiscated medical supplies under the jurisdiction of the federal court.
Penal Code Violations and Growing Supply Chain Scrutiny
The suspects face charges of violating Article 204 of the Argentine Penal Code, which penalizes the unauthorized sale or distribution of medicinal products in a manner that alters their quality, quantity, or source, or dispenses them without mandatory prescriptions.
The González Catán seizures follow a similar enforcement action in Merlo, where police confiscated unauthorized medical merchandise valued at 80 million pesos from private residences, a kiosk, and a local market.
Federal investigators are actively examining the supply chain behind both cases to determine how large quantities of regulated pharmaceutical products leaked into the illegal market outside authorized distribution circuits.
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