The Argentinean authorities have addressed the residents with a recommendation not to use and throw away cocaine bought in the past few days. The recommendation is related to the fact that a batch of low-quality cocaine has spread in the province of Buenos Aires – it causes cardiac and respiratory arrest within an hour after ingestion. At least 23 people have already died from this, and 84 more people are in intensive care.
According to the Minister of Health of the province of Buenos Aires, Nicolas Kreplak, the number of victims would have been higher if, due to the pandemic, hospitals had not received enough ventilators: about 20 victims had to be connected to such devices. At the same time, authorities note that the number of deaths may increase, as many of the victims are in serious condition, in addition, it is possible that someone died at home and this has not yet been discovered.
According to authorities, the cocaine may have been homemade or may have been tampered with to reduce the cost of the drug. Argentina has already arrested Paraguayan drug dealer Joaquino Aquino, who, according to the authorities, may be involved in the distribution of such cocaine, and some other drug traffickers. 15,000 packages of the drug were confiscated. About 200,000 doses of cocaine are sold in Buenos Aires a day, according to authorities.