Colombian authorities say that Bogota soccer club Santa Fe may be infiltrated by criminals who saw their $29 million and 17 million euros in cash seized by Police on Monday.
Colombia’s Prosecutor General on Tuesday admitted the team was being investigated, but stressed there is no certainty to say the soccer club is financed by dirty money.
However, the Prosecutor General’s Office wants to issue arrest warrents for some of the club’s current and former financial partners following indications that suspected drug lords Luis Caicedo, Claudio Javier Silva and Ricardo Villarraga investmed money in the club through frontmen. The major cash haul in Bogota allegedly belongs to these suspected drug lords.
Santa Fe holds the number one position in Colombia’s leading Copa Postobon and denies the alleged involvement with drug gangs.
“Independiente Santa Fe has not received any request from the authorities, we are officially not required for any legal issues,” Santa Fe President Cesar Pastrana said in a press conference.
“However, we are ready and willing to cooperate with judicial authorities because we are respectable, especially when it comes to drug-related issues,” the soccer executive added.