On 30 January, Diego Anzalone told his associate Bono De Carlucci that they would be signing a deal with Argentine soccer legend Sergio “Kun” Agüero within a fortnight.
Anzalone was trying to bring the former Manchester City striker into a new ticketing venture. According to the messages later seized by investigators, a script was being prepared for Agüero to record a launch advertisement.
By the time those preparations became public, Anzalone was in custody. He was arrested on 23 June in an investigation into an organisation allegedly bringing cocaine from Bolivia and synthetic drugs from Spain into Argentina.
Police later detained Pablo “Bebote” Álvarez, a former leader of the barra brava (hardcore supporters) from Independiente, one of Argentina’s largest soccer clubs, as part of the same process.
Investigators recovered the conversations about Agüero and a venture called KRÜ Tickets. KRÜ is an esports brand Agüero founded in 2020, with Anzalone seeking to build the ticketing company around the star’s established company.
Agüero and KRÜ both issued statements saying they had reviewed the proposal and passed on it.
But by then, the story was already running wild.
How did the investigation start?
The police investigation began in June when 12 liters of “liquid ecstasy” were discovered at Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza airport in a shipment from Barcelona. The subsequent operation saw over 27 raids across Buenos Aires and Salta, with 11 people arrested, and drugs, currency, and vehicles seized.
The information retrieved allowed investigators to map out 25 courier journeys bringing the drugs, according to Argentine crime outlet Encripdata.
