Key Facts
- ✓ The Civil Police seized luxury vehicles and cash during an operation targeting a group suspected of moving R$97 million.
- ✓ Search and seizure warrants were executed in Ribeirão Preto, Santa Rosa de Viterbo, São João da Boa Vista, and São Paulo.
- ✓ The investigation identified a money laundering network operating for decades in São Paulo and Minas Gerais using 'smurfing' tactics.
- ✓ The group's leader allegedly moved more than R$25 million in a single semester of 2024.
Quick Summary
The Civil Police executed a large-scale operation on Tuesday morning, targeting a criminal group suspected of moving approximately R$97 million through the exploitation of illegal gambling in the interior of São Paulo. The operation involved search and seizure warrants in multiple cities, including Ribeirão Preto, Santa Rosa de Viterbo, São João da Boa Vista, and the capital.
Authorities reported the seizure of electronic devices, betting instruments, luxury vehicles, and cash. The investigation was conducted by the Divisão Especializada em Investigações Criminais (Deic) of Piracicaba, which identified a money laundering network that had been operating for decades across São Paulo and Minas Gerais. The suspects are accused of using front companies and straw men to obscure the origin of the funds. The operation, titled 'Quebrando a Banca,' focused on the group's leadership and the business arm used to process bank transfers.
Operation 'Quebrando a Banca' 🚔
The Civil Police deflagged the operation on Tuesday morning, executing search and seizure warrants across several locations in the state of São Paulo. The primary targets were the cities of Ribeirão Preto, Santa Rosa de Viterbo, São João da Boa Vista, and the capital, São Paulo. According to the latest reports, the operation did not result in immediate arrests, but authorities seized a significant amount of material evidence.
The items confiscated during the searches included:
- Electronic devices
- Betting instruments
- Luxury vehicles
- Cash values
The operation was named "Quebrando a Banca" and specifically targeted the leader of the criminal organization, its other members, and the business arm that served as the destination for bank transfers.
Money Laundering Network 🕵️
The investigation, led by the Divisão Especializada em Investigações Criminais (Deic) of Piracicaba, revealed a sophisticated money laundering scheme. The network had been operating for decades across cities in São Paulo and Minas Gerais. According to police, the group employed managers and financial operators who pulverized millions of reais through fractional transfers and deposits, a technique known as "smurfing."
To hide the financial movement from criminal activities, the group utilized front companies and "laranjas" (straw men). Intelligence reports highlighted financial movements described as "stratospheric and totally incompatible with the declared economic capacity" of those investigated. Specifically, the leader of the group allegedly moved more than R$25 million in just one semester of 2024. The group also used cash real estate transactions and the acquisition of assets in the names of third parties to conceal the origin of the funds.
Legal Consequences and Charges ⚖️
The suspects identified in this operation are expected to face serious criminal charges. The investigation points to violations of laws regarding money laundering or concealment of assets, criminal association, and the exploitation of illegal gambling. The authorities have not released the names of the suspects involved in the case.
The operation highlights the ongoing efforts by state police to dismantle large-scale illegal gambling rings that often serve as fronts for broader financial crimes. By targeting the financial infrastructure and leadership, authorities aim to disrupt the flow of illicit capital generated by these activities.
