Argentine authorities arrested three Chilean nationals—Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, Bastian Jimenez Freraut, and Pablo Zuniga Cartes—at Retiro bus station in Buenos Aires in early August 2026. The arrests were part of a joint operation between Argentine and Chilean police targeting a series of burglaries involving prominent athletes in the U.S. and Argentina [1, 2].
The suspects face federal conspiracy charges in the United States for burglarizing homes while the athletes were away. Victims included NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, NBA player Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks, and former Argentine tennis champion Juan Martin del Potro [1, 2].
Authorities say the suspects disabled alarms, blocked internet signals, and covered surveillance cameras using advanced technology during the break-ins [1]. Mahomes and Kelce’s homes were burglarized days apart in October 2024 while they were out of town [2].
In February 2025, seven Chilean nationals, including the three recently arrested, were charged in Florida with conspiracy related to interstate transportation of stolen property [1]. One suspect, Alexander Esteban Huaiquil Chavez, pleaded guilty in March 2025 in Tennessee federal court and faces sentencing on June 11 [1].
The maximum sentence for the conspiracy charge is 10 years in prison [1]. The three men are currently in Chile awaiting extradition to the U.S. following the extradition request [1, 2].
There is a discrepancy about Pablo Zuniga Cartes’ link to the Juan Martin del Potro burglary. One source reports he was arrested but not connected to that burglary [1]. Another says he was arrested separately and not involved in that case [2].
Officials have yet to announce the next steps in the extradition process, but the suspects remain held in Chile pending resolution.
