THE Federal Police Operation Narco Bet was launched this Tuesday (14), against a group suspected of money laundering linked to international drug trafficking. According to PF investigations, the scheme was operated through financial transactions with cryptoactives, international remittances and the use of companies linked to the betting sector, the “bets”.
The Federal Police reported that 11 people were arrested in the operation, including businessman Rodrigo de Paula Morgado, appointed as the organization’s “logistical-financial operator”, and digital influencer Bruno Alexssander Souza Silva, known as Buzeira. In addition to them, Tacio Costa, T10, was arrested; Ingrid Ohara, influencer and wife of T10; and Rodrigo Morgado, businessman and financial operator of the group.
According to a report from the Financial Activities Control Council (Coaf), Morgado acted as a type of “private bank” for the gang’s members, concentrating million-dollar transactions in personal accounts, his own companies and those of third parties. The investigations indicate that more than R$313 million circulated under its control between 2019 and 2024. Part of the amounts was converted into cryptocurrencies, totaling around R$100 million, with movements incompatible with the tax declarations presented.
Among the mechanisms used to conceal illicit amounts were cold invoices, “hidden partner” contracts to hide assets, creation of holding companies and acquisition of companies to obtain online betting licenses. Among the betting platforms mentioned are BRX.BET and RICO.BET, associated with the influencer Buzeira.
“Investigations indicate that the criminal group used sophisticated money laundering techniques, with financial transactions in cryptocurrencies and international remittances, aimed at hiding the illicit origin of the values and dissimulating assets”, explains the PF in a press release.
The companies Evipes, NGX Holding, Infinity Serviços Administrativos and Buzeira Digital were classified by the PF as centers for concealing illicit capital.
In total, 19 search and seizure warrants were carried out to obtain more information about the criminal network and capture the criminal organization’s assets. The targets were mainly related to accounting and nationalization of resources.
During the operation, the Federal Police seized assets and valuables totaling more than R$630 million, with the aim of decapitalizing the criminal organization and ensuring damage repairs. The items include luxury cars, aircraft, jet-skis, watches, cash and high-end real estate.
According to the newspaper O Globo, Operation Narco Bet is an offshoot of Operation Narco Vela, launched in April, after the seizure of four tons of cocaine on a Brazilian sailboat by North American authorities, off the coast of Africa. The investigation had the support of the German Federal Criminal Police and revealed an international trafficking and money laundering network.
Fonte Gaming365 – Brasil
