PF dismantles groups that laundered money from international trafficking

The Federal Police (PF) launched this Wednesday morning (12) an operation to dismantle criminal groups specializing in money laundering from international drug trafficking and other crimes. Operation Bahamut has 80 agents in the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. According to the PF, the two investigated gangs reached a turnover of R$ 2 billion since 2017. The 3rd Federal Criminal Court of Rio de Janeiro issued 11 preventive arrest warrants and 29 search and seizure warrants. By 10 am, eight people had been arrested. The Justice also determined the seizure of goods and values ​​on behalf of those investigated, of oranges (people who “lend” their name to third parties) and of front companies, used to conceal illicit assets. In all, the blockade of approximately R$ 250 million was determined, in addition to the interdiction of movable and immovable property. Luxury life The federal police seized at least six luxury cars and money in cash, of which R$ 2 million plus 2 million Argentine pesos (the equivalent of more than R$ 36,000). Some targets of the operation boasted luxurious lives, lived in high-end properties, had very expensive imported vehicles and constantly traveled internationally. The investigation by the Drug Repression Police Station (DRE/RJ) is an offshoot of Operations Tamoios and Brutium, carried out in Rio de Janeiro in 2021 and 2022 and which sought to repress the practice of cocaine trafficking to Europe, through ships . “The investigations found that two distinct centers, with similar ways of acting and commanded by foreigners, provided financial support to those investigated for drug trafficking through money laundering. [lavagem de dinheiro]”, explains the PF in a press release. An exchange office in Rio de Janeiro was identified as responsible for the entry of money from other countries to pay drug dealers in Brazil. “It was verified that the actions of the suspects were based on the creation of shell companies on behalf of intermediary persons [laranjas], which were used to open accounts used in the movement of illicit values”, details the PF. More than 20 companies created for this purpose were identified by the researchers. The investigation work also pointed to financial transactions and negotiations involving Brazil and countries in Europe, North America and South America. The Federal Police found that criminal groups also provided money laundering services through crypto assets. The facts investigated cover crimes of criminal organization, fraudulent management of a financial institution and money laundering. If convicted, the combined penalties can reach 30 years in prison. The name of the operation, Bahamut, alludes to a creature from Arabian mythology that sustains the Earth. According to the PF, in the case of investigations, the groups lent themselves to support the illicit financial articulation of criminal organizations.

Agência Brasil