The Federal Police (PF) dismantled a network of financial operations that practiced money laundering with crypto assets. The action took place on Wednesday (9) and is part of Operation Alcaçaria.
Furthermore, the actions are related to Operation Privilege, which took place on the same day in several cities in Rio Grande do Sul (RS)
PF dismantles group that laundered money with cryptocurrencies
According to the PF, agents served 62 search and seizure warrants, 10 preventive arrest warrants and three temporary arrest warrants in nine different states.
In addition, the court ordered the seizure of real estate and vehicles and the freezing of funds in the bank accounts of the individuals and legal entities under investigation. Finally, the PF seized a large quantity of cattle that was on a rural property linked to one of the leaders.
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The investigation lasted about 3 years. It found that the organization made deposits of at least R$1.2 billion in cash into shell accounts in the name of shell partners. These deposits occurred every day at bank branches throughout the country.
Furthermore, agents discovered that some of this money was converted into cryptocurrencies. These funds were then sent to offshore wallets, where they were eventually converted back into dollars to pay drug and arms suppliers.
With these resources, the PF identified that the group purchased, for example, a luxury property in Itapema/SC. In addition, it paid for surgeries for foreigners in high-cost hospitals in São Paulo.
Police are still investigating the involvement of more shell companies in the scheme. There are also suspicions that crypto exchanges helped convert fiat money into crypto.
The group will be charged with the crimes of criminal organization, money laundering, currency evasion, operating an illegal financial institution and using false documents.
Investigated committed other crimes
Four people investigated in Operation Alcaçaria were also investigated in Operation Privilege, launched on the morning of the same day in Rio Grande do Sul.
Privilege arrested 17 people, 11 of whom were targets of the action, 3 fugitives with open arrest warrants and 3 caught red-handed for illegal possession of a firearm and obstruction of justice.
Investigation seized R$300,000. Source: FICCO/RS
The investigation involved the arm of the group that operated in the Vale dos Sinos and Western Border regions of RS to practice money laundering. The expectation is that the group moved more than R$770 million in the last 5 years.
The article PF dismantles money laundering scheme with cryptocurrencies was first seen on BeInCrypto Brasil.
