Man Who Claimed to be Maradona’s Son Arrested for Drug Trafficking

by Marcus Thompson March 7, 2026

written by Marcus Thompson March 7, 2026

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Santiago Lara, who previously claimed to be Diego Maradonas secret son, was arrested for drug trafficking and weapons possession in Argentina and England.
In Argentina, Lara was detained with his biological father, Marcelo, during an operation that seized various illicit substances and related paraphernalia.
Lara had previously claimed to be Maradonas son based on a supposed seven-year relationship between Maradona and his mother, but a paternity test after Maradonas death confirmed otherwise.
Marcelo Lara is reportedly the leader of a drug trafficking gang, and it is alleged that he enlisted Santiagos assistance in the scheme.

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Santiago Lara, who claimed to be Diego Maradona’s secret son, was arrested for drug trafficking on June 6 in La Plata, Argentina. Infobae reported that police detained Lara with two other suspects, including his biological father, Marcelo, during an operation in Buenos Aires province. Authorities seized cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, and methamphetamine, along with precision scales, seven cell phones, and cash. Lara had claimed since 2016 to be Maradona’s son, alleging that his mother, a former model who died of lung cancer at 23 in 2006, had a seven-year relationship with the football star. Lara said he discovered the rumor at age 13, noting that he shared the same curly hairstyle as Maradona during his time with Barcelona and Napoli. Following Maradona’s death on November 25, 2020, Lara requested the exhumation of Maradona’s body for a paternity test. However, results eight months later confirmed that Lara was not Maradona’s son. A recent police photo of Lara shows a changed appearance from when he first claimed to be Maradona’s son, revealing his resemblance to Marcelo.

Arrest of Diego Maradona’s Alleged Son Santiago Lara for Drug Trafficking and Weapons Possession Unveils Involvement in Criminal Gang

In a separate incident, Lara was arrested on February 20 in Gosport, England, on suspicion of drug dealing and weapons possession. Police apprehended Lara at a location on Carmine Court, Rowner, Gosport, and charged him with intent to sell Class A and B drugs and with carrying an offensive weapon. This case is unrelated to his previous claims regarding Maradona’s paternity. According to Extra, Marcelo Lara has been identified as the leader of a drug trafficking gang and allegedly enlisted Santiago’s assistance in the scheme. (Note: This information does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Portal Uai.) These arrests mark a significant departure from Lara’s earlier pursuit of a connection to the Maradona family.