Brazilian police have seized approximately $196 million in assets from a drug trafficking gang involved in money laundering via cryptocurrency

Odaily reports that the Brazilian Federal Police, in Operation Commodity, have cracked down on a drug trafficking gang that laundered money through cryptocurrency. Since 2021, the gang has smuggled over 6.5 tons of cocaine to Europe via the Port of Rio de Janeiro, hiding the drugs in shipments of coffee, cement, and mortar.



The operation covered the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina, and Espírito Santo. Police executed 13 preventive arrest warrants and 44 search and seizure warrants. The court ordered the seizure of assets and the freezing of up to 1 billion Brazilian reais, approximately $196 million.



According to police, the gang is linked to the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV), and laundered money through a luxury car dealership in the Greater São Paulo area and shell companies. The dealership in question sold vehicles such as Ferrari, Porsche, Corvette, and Land Rover.



Those involved used shell companies to issue invoices lacking supporting documentation, funneling drug trafficking proceeds into the Brazilian financial system and using cryptocurrencies to conceal transactions. The suspects will face charges including transnational criminal organization, international drug trafficking, and money laundering.