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Federal Raids Hit AFA Headquarters and 17 Clubs in Sur Finanzas Money-Laundering Probe

Prosecutors are tracing flows tied to the financier’s sponsorships and loans to clubs through bank‑secrecy lifts and asset freezes.

Overview

  • By order of Judge Luis Armella, Policía Federal teams carried out 33–35 simultaneous searches at AFA’s Viamonte offices, the Ezeiza complex, League offices and roughly 17–18 clubs, seizing documents and digital devices.
  • Prosecutor Cecilia Incardona requested the lifting of bank and tax secrecy for the clubs, and the court advanced asset‑tracing measures including preventive embargos and information requests to the Central Bank and the UIF.
  • The investigation centers on Sur Finanzas, with tax agencies ARCA and the DGI reporting about 818 billion pesos moved through virtual wallets using third‑party accounts lacking proven solvency.
  • Investigators’ working hypothesis is that the firm extended large “loans” to clubs and recovered funds via televisation or marketing contracts, possibly through inflated transfers and intermediaries.
  • Sur Finanzas owner Ariel Vallejo is identified as the principal suspect and recently turned over his cellphone, while several clubs said their ties were limited to sponsorships and pledged cooperation with the probe.