Former Milei official arrested with millions in cash, drugs and espionage equipment
A former head of ARSAT and ORSNA was arrested in Palermo following an operation that revealed a fortune in dollars, narcotics and electronic devices.
Former Milei official arrested with millions in cash, drugs and espionage equipment
A former senior official of the Argentine public administration was arrested after the Federal Police raided his apartment in the Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. More than two and a half million dollars in notes were found at the location, along with narcotics and technological equipment.
Facundo Leal, who held the presidency of ARSAT during Alberto Fernández's government and was later appointed to head ORSNA by Javier Milei's administration, was apprehended in one of around a dozen simultaneous proceedings ordered by the judiciary.
The investigation, which began with the theft of high-technology equipment from the state company, took an unexpected turn when agents found a large quantity of money in US currency, pesos and currencies from other nations at the former official's home. Along with the cash, ketamine, cocaine and synthetic drugs in various forms were seized, as well as documents and electronic devices that will be examined by experts.
According to what was published by NODAL, the discovery was not initially foreseen, as the case file was centred on the theft of ARSAT material and possible irregularities in contracts. Federal judge Lino Mirabelli, based in San Isidro, and prosecutor Fernando Domínguez are overseeing the investigation.
Leal resigned from ORSNA in February 2026, although he remained linked to ARSAT as a permanent employee. The judiciary must now clarify the origin of the seized funds, their destination and whether they are related to the dealings being investigated at the state company. The detainee remains in federal custody as the case takes on new criminal, economic and political dimensions.
Source: Google News AR — Crime