Plusspay faces an arrest warrant for its founder Jose Manuel Rios Guaido after Chilean prosecutors linked the fintech platform to a money‑laundering scheme run by the Tren de Aragua criminal organization.
Law‑Enforcement Action
The Southern Metropolitan Regional Prosecutor’s Office executed a raid on Plusspay’s Providencia office in Santiago on June 13, targeting the firm’s alleged role in “Operación Tokio,” a broader crackdown on the gang’s financial network in Chile. Detectives from the Organized Crime Investigation Brigade reported that the 38‑year‑old Venezuelan entrepreneur was absent from the premises and all registered residences, suggesting he may have fled to Venezuela or Colombia.
Financial Mechanics
According to the prosecution’s dossier, more than $84 million in dubious transactions passed through the Plusspay system. The platform reportedly received Chilean‑peso deposits, exchanged them for stablecoins—primarily Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC)—and subsequently routed the crypto assets to offshore wallets and foreign bank accounts.
Regulatory and Market Implications
Plusspay promoted its services as being overseen by Chile’s Financial Market Commission (CMF), a claim now under scrutiny. Investors and crypto market observers are closely watching the case, as the allegations raise concerns about compliance gaps and the potential misuse of blockchain technology for illicit fund transfers.