Overview
- The coordinated operation, carried out Saturday, involved 85 judicially ordered searches across several provinces and resulted in 23 people being detained by federal police.
- Prosecutors allege suspects used simulated grain sales to enter fictitious retentions in the Sistema de Control de Retenciones (SICORE) and then sought improper IVA (VAT) refunds.
- The probe began after an ARCA‑DGI alert flagged 59 taxpayers for irregular transactions and the case is being handled by the Juzgado Nacional en lo Penal Económico Nº2 under Judge Gustavo D. Meirovich with Fiscalía Nº7 led by Gabriela Ruíz Morales.
- Investigators seized substantial evidence for forensic review including cash in multiple currencies (reported pesos 15,433,100, US$78,205, €7,715 and CLP 1,000), 10 vehicles, about 55 mobile phones and numerous computers and storage devices, noting all figures are preliminary.
- Next steps include forensic analysis of devices and records to establish who received refunds, quantify the exact fiscal loss, pursue asset recovery if warranted, and preserve the presumption of innocence for those detained.