The Public Ministry initiated a preliminary investigation against Edison Vargas HuamangaPresident of the Fuerabamba communityfor the alleged crimes of money laundering and fraud. Judicial action responds to a requirement presented by the Division of money laundering (Divila-DC) of the National Police of Peru. The investigation is based on a journalistic report published by Pear21 At the beginning of March 2024, which pointed out irregularities in the management of the funds that the company gave to the community as part of an economic agreement.
In 2023, the Las Bambas mining company and the Fuerabamba community reached an agreement through which the company paid a financial compensation for a total of USD 31.8 millionaimed at resolving a conflict on land that dates back to 2011. From this sum, approximately USD 19.8 million They were delivered to Edison Vargas, as a community representative, in three installments that were made between April and May 2024.
However, according to the complaints filed, Vargas Huamanga would have delayed the distribution of funds among the more than 600 community members waiting for their compensation. As reported by the aforementioned media, some members of the community have stated that they did not receive their share of the money for months, while others have not yet received any payment to date.
After receiving payment from The bambasEdison Vargas made several significant purchases that have generated suspicions around the use of funds. As reported Peru 21among the acquisitions detailed in the National Police report, are a house in Cusco by USD 210.000bought in cash in December 2024, and several high -value vehicles, including Two Toyota Hilux trucksa Toyota Fortuner and a Minibuswith a total close to USD 200.000. These purchases were also allegedly made in cash and registered in the name of Vargas or their company, Reedy investments.
The report of the aforementioned newspaper indicates that Vargas Huamanga He has defended these acquisitions, ensuring that the purchase of the house was financed with an “family loan”And that the vehicles were acquired to help their relatives. However, according to the same report, so far Vargas has not provided the documents accredited by these informal transactions.
The research carried out by the Specialized Prosecutor against Organized Crime of Abancayunder the conduct of the Fiscal Elia Sequerios Medranointends to determine if Edison Vargas used his position as president of the community to enrich themselves illegally. The Prosecutor’s Office is also evaluating whether Vargas tried legitimize The goods acquired through property and vehicle purchases, using your company GENERAL INVERSIONS REEDY SRL as a facade for some of the transactions.
As the investigation progresses, the Public Ministry and the National Police continue to collect evidence and analyze the documents related to the acquisitions of Edison Vargas.
As reported by the same newspaper, April 24, 2025, the members of the 13 hamlets that make up the community of Fuerabamba They sent a letter requesting that Edison Vargas conveque a Extraordinary General Assembly to account for the community members about the distribution of USD 19.8 million received as compensation.
In the letter, the community members demanded a detailed report on the distribution of the funds, given the growing concern about the lack of clarity in their management. Although the proposal was raised for the April 28Edison Vargas has not responded to the application and, to date, he has not convened the assembly nor has given any report on the distribution of compensation.
