He was arrested in Luján after 60 simultaneous raids; he is accused of leading a mafia network
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A massive police operation ended with the arrest of Jorge Castillo, known as the "King of La Salada." The businessman was arrested at his home in Open Door, in Luján, during the early hours of Wednesday.
The Argentine Federal Police carried out more than 60 raids in various parts of Greater Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires. The operation included illegal markets and gated communities in the southern part of Greater Buenos Aires.
The actions took place within the framework of a case for money laundering, tax evasion, illicit association, and smuggling. The judiciary had been investigating him since 2023.
Megaoperation La Salada and Avellaneda Avenue
The operation focused on two main areas: the La Salada market in Lomas de Zamora and the informal businesses on Avellaneda Avenue, in Flores. They also raided homes in gated communities.
Police sources confirmed that documents, merchandise, and a significant amount of cash were seized. The case was led by federal judge Luis Armella and prosecutor Cecilia Incardona.
Allanamientos en las oficinas de Jorge Castillo.
The La Salada market operates as an informal wholesale trading circuit. It runs three times a week and attracts more than 600,000 people during the high season, which began in May.
History and background of the "king of the market"
Castillo had acquired part of the La Salada complex in 1999 for 3.5 million dollars. He claimed to have done so along with "385 other Bolivian partners." Before that, he was involved in shoe manufacturing.
In 2015, he publicly acknowledged selling products with counterfeit brands. The market, founded in 1991, was divided into three sectors: Urkupiña, Ocean, and Punta Mogote.
It wasn't the first time he fell. In 2017, he was also arrested, accused of extorting street vendors to allow them to operate around La Salada. During that arrest, he even fired at the officers before being subdued.
His nephew, Adrián Castillo, was sentenced in 2022 to eight years in prison for being part of the same organization. For the judiciary, the family led a mafia structure that used violence to control informal trade.
Castillo's downfall represents a significant blow against the mafias of Greater Buenos Aires that enriched themselves outside the law. This time, the judiciary targeted the heart of a business that caused millions in informality.
