Argentine Judge Demands Trial Date in $300M Container Smuggling Case

Economic Criminal Judge Marcelo Aguinsky has requested an oral court to set a trial date for a 2016 smuggling case involving 98 defendants, including 45 customs officials, 1,500 containers, and an estimated $300 million loss to the state. The request signals judicial pressure to move a long-stalled case forward, while court concerns about internal changes at the customs agency (Aduana) add uncertainty. The case highlights systemic corruption in Argentine customs and potential institutional instability.