Tainted Cocaine In Argentina Leaves 17 dead
The local government of Tres de Febrero said in a statement it was aware of people falling seriously ill due to "allegedly adulterated cocaine" and was working with emergency services and hospitals to prevent more deaths.
At least 17 people have died in Argentina after consuming cocaine suspected of containing a poisonous substance, with the cases clustered around several towns in sprawling Buenos Aires province, officials and local media said on Wednesday.
Another 56 people have been hospitalized, a government source told Reuters, adding that more are seeking hospital care in eight of the province`s municipalities due to the toxic cocaine.
The source said the death toll currently from the towns of Hurlingham, San Martin, and Tres de Febrero will likely rise further. Buenos Aires province, the country's most populous, is home to many suburbs of the national capital of the same name.
Officials believe some of the victims suffered from opioid intoxication, according to a statement from the province's health ministry released on Wednesday.
He added that the number of people hospitalized for serious illness "continues to rise." After the first death on Wednesday, local security forces detained several suspects in drug sales.