Santa Fe completes 224 assets seized from crime: there are more than 8000 registered and they hope to collect up to $800 million

The government of Santa Fe will conduct its sixth auction of assets seized from criminal activities this Friday, offering 224 lots with more than 8,796 registered participants nationwide. The sale will take place at the Belgrano Station in the provincial capital and marks the largest number of lots since the creation of the Provincial Agency for Registration, Administration, and Disposition of Property and Rights (Aprad). The auction includes items such as 91 motorcycles, 80 vehicles, 40 bicycles, two boats, one property located in Rosario, and ten retro arcade machines requiring restoration. Base prices range from 30% to 50% below market value. The province expects to raise up to 800 million pesos from the sale, which will be directed toward assisting victims of crime and funding social programs related to education, mental health, and addiction. This initiative is part of a broader policy in Santa Fe aimed at managing and distributing seized goods to individuals associated with criminal activities. Matías Figueroa Escauriza, secretary of Provincial Records Management, emphasized that the policy is based on common sense: removing assets from criminals and selling them. He noted that the variety of items being auctioned reflects the diversity of the economy of criminals, including those who have economic power and possess expensive goods, as well as those who commit street crimes using stolen motorcycles. The Aprad has established mechanisms to ensure that participants do not have ties to the criminal organizations from which the seized goods originated. Martín Domene, the provincial director of the agency, explained that a detailed data cross-check is conducted before allowing registration to verify participants' backgrounds and potential connections to investigated gangs. According to Domene, approximately 80 to 100 people are typically excluded from such auctions for various reasons. Regarding payment conditions, Domene stated that bank transfers and cash will be accepted. Buyers must pay a deposit equivalent to 10% of the winning bid amount and complete the remaining 90% once the lot is approved. An additional 10% commission will be charged to the auctioneer. The auction features a wide array of items, including luxury cars, boats, and retro arcade machines. Among the notable items is a two-story house in Rosario measuring 99 square meters, with a starting price of 40 million pesos. Other high-value items include two boats, a Toyota Hilux 2021 valued at 12 million pesos, and a Ford Ranger 2020 priced at 10 million pesos. Ten retro arcade machines will start at 20,000 pesos each, intended for restoration. The auction has attracted participants from various provinces, with the majority coming from Santa Fe, followed by Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, and Córdoba. The event aims to provide financial assistance to victims of crime and support social initiatives through the proceeds generated from the sale of these seized assets.