Santino Alvarado, son of convicted Rosario drug lord Esteban Lindor Alvarado, was arrested Thursday morning in a series of over 30 raids conducted by the Federal Police.
The operation, coordinated by federal justice through the Procunar and the Ministry of Public Prosecution, targeted him for narcotics, money laundering, and weapons offenses.
Did You Know? Santino Alvarado, 20, is the eldest son of Esteban Alvarado, who is serving a life sentence in Ezeiza prison for crimes including homicide and drug trafficking.
The main procedures took place in Rosario, Funes, Roldán, and San Lorenzo, authorized by Federal Guarantees Judge Carlos Vera Barros following requests from federal prosecutors Diego Iglesias and Matías Scilabra of the Procunar, and Diego Velasco and Juan Argibay Molina of the Procelac, who worked jointly with the Santa Fe Attorney General’s Office Strategic Firearm Approach unit.
In total, the operation involved over 30 raids, with at least 31 conducted by the Federal Police.
🚨 DETUVIERON A SANTINO ALVARADO: ENCONTRARON UNA GRANADA EN UNO DE LOS ALLANAMIENTOS La Policía Federal realizó al menos 31 allanamientos en el marco de un operativo que terminó con la detención en Funes de Santino Alvarado, hijo de Esteban Alvarado y señalado como referente de… pic.twitter.com/bZFSoecL81
At his Funes residence, the young man destroyed three mobile phones as federal agents entered. There, police found two pistols and a shotgun, which will be sent for ballistic examination. He reportedly had documentation for each weapon. During a procedure at Carrasco 6000, a hand grenade was discovered, prompting the intervention of the Explosives Brigade.
Investigation Targets Organized Crime Links
The investigation into Alvarado has been ongoing for over a year, focusing on his alleged ties to the leadership of Rosario Central’s barra brava and the possible continuation of his father’s illicit businesses, according to infobae.
The joint probe involves both provincial and federal authorities, aiming to determine connections to narcotics and illegal firearm circulation. The cause is carried out jointly by the Ministry Public of the Accusation (MPA) of Santa Fe and the Ministry Public Fiscal (MPF) of the Nation.
Last week, Alvarado’s name appeared in two mafia-style posters found at a school and a kindergarten in Rosario’s northwest zone, though neither institution had any connection to him. The two notes were found on the morning of November 4 at a school on Pasco 7200 and at a kindergarten on Bemporat and Guatemala.
Following the dissemination of these threatening notes, it was revealed that Alvarado’s former partner had received death threats and extortion demands in mid-October, leading Santino to give a statement to provincial prosecutors, infobae reported.
Expert Insight: The coordinated federal-provincial operation and the seizure of weaponry suggest authorities are targeting not just individuals but the infrastructure supporting organized crime in the Rosario metropolitan area.
Prior Involvement in Football Violence
Alvarado was also mentioned as a possible manager of the Rosario Central barra brava after the November 2024 murder of Andrés “Pillín” Bracamonte.
This followed his being photographed in the stadium’s avalanche zone with the new barra leader, Lautaro “Laucha” Ghiselli—later accused of being a member of “Los Menores”—and Ezequiel Riquelme, son of convicted Francisco “Fran” Riquelme, who operated a cell for Esteban Alvarado in the northwest of the city.
Answers to Key Questions
Who is Santino Alvarado?
Santino Alvarado is the 20-year-old eldest son of Esteban Lindor Alvarado, a convicted drug lord serving a life sentence. He has been investigated for alleged links to organized crime and the Rosario Central football fan group.
What evidence was found during the raids?
Police seized two pistols, a shotgun, and a hand grenade. Santino Alvarado destroyed three mobile phones during the raid. He reportedly had documentation for the firearms found at his home. Almost 1 kilogram of cocaine, firearms, and cartridges of different calibers were also found in the other raids.
What is the significance of the investigation?
The probe targets potential connections to narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and illegal weapons possession. It is part of a broader effort to dismantle organized crime networks operating in the Rosario region. These procedures respond to an investigation articulated jointly between the Ministry Public of the Accusation (MPA) of the province of Santa Fe and the Ministry Public Fiscal (MPF) of the Nation.
What will happen to the seized weapons and other evidence?