24/06/2026 03:41 - Judiciales
Federal Judge Ariel Lijo has ordered a raid in Banfield, a southern suburb of Buenos Aires, targeting Elías Piccirillo, a key figure in the ongoing extortion and money laundering investigation involving Martín Insaurralde, the former Secretary of Public Works for Buenos Aires Province.
Piccirillo remains detained for his alleged role in planting illegal drugs on Francisco Hauque, a scheme prosecutors believe is connected to a wider network of extortion and financial crimes centered around the disgraced provincial official.
The scandal erupted in September 2023 when intimate videos of Sofía Clerici recorded on a luxury yacht surfaced, triggering an investigation into an alleged extortion network.
Jésica Cirio, an Argentine television personality, filed an extortion complaint (Case CCC 36588/2025). Federal Judge Luis Armella subsequently ordered raids on her properties in the upscale Palermo neighborhood and Banfield on June 22, 2026.
| Category | Amount/Detail |
|---|---|
| International Trips | 75 trips |
| Expenses in US Dollars | USD 71,280.40 |
| Spending in Marbella, Spain | €41,087.65 + USD 8,189.30 |
| Declared Assets (2011-2021) | $8,620,967 Argentine pesos |
Elías Piccirillo is one of several defendants in this complex judicial case. He is currently detained for his alleged involvement in planting illegal substances on Francisco Hauque, a tactic prosecutors say was part of a broader extortion scheme.
The raid ordered by Judge Lijo in Banfield aims to gather additional evidence to advance the investigation, particularly regarding money laundering and extortion charges.
Legislator Graciela Ocaña has publicly criticized the slow pace of the investigation. To date, Martín Insaurralde has not been summoned for questioning, raising concerns about the timeline of the proceedings.
This case adds to other investigations related to illicit enrichment and potential financial crimes within provincial government administration.
The federal court continues gathering evidence, with further actions expected in the coming days. The case spans multiple investigative threads including:
Alfredo S. Quiroga
