The Fiscalía Regional Metropolitana Sur began formalizing 17 defendants on Sunday in the Tokyo Operation, an investigation into money laundering linked to the Tren de Aragua.
The hearing is taking place at the Centro de Justicia in Santiago and is led by regional prosecutor Héctor Barros, along with prosecutors Milibor Bugueño and Luis Barraza. The defendants face charges of criminal association, extortion, illicit association for money laundering and money laundering. According to the Fiscalía, the network laundered about $75 billion and removed more than US$84 million from Chile between 2022 and 2025, from extortion, drug trafficking, prostitution and smuggling. The June 2 operation resulted in 19 arrests. The investigation arose after a quintuple homicide in Lampa. Prosecutor Barros said it is the first major blow to the group's economic structure. Among those detained is a Banco Santander executive identified as José Pérez Asencio.
