In the early hours of this Sunday (7), the Federal Police arrested a specialist in money laundering through cryptocurrencies. The person was arrested in the migration area of Guarulhos International Airport, São Paulo, as he prepared to fly to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
According to the PF, the action is part of a larger investigation, launched with Operation Colossus, which aimed to suppress crimes such as currency evasion, money laundering and criminal associations.
The investigation, which covered the period from 2017 to 2021, included the analysis of suspicious banking transactions and the purchase of cryptocurrencies, with suspicions of involvement in previous illegal activities by the target companies.
The operation also established links with other previous PF operations linked to financial crimes and drug trafficking. During the operation, searches and seizures of the property of the suspect and his partner also took place. The arrest took place after a period of surveillance by the Federal Police.
Suspected of laundering R$13 billion in cryptocurrencies
The suspect is suspected of money laundering, receiving illegal amounts of money in Brazil and converting them into cryptocurrencies, which were then moved both inside and outside the country.
He used shell companies and middlemen to hide the source of the money. In addition, he is charged with misrepresentation, currency evasion, irregular operation of a financial institution and use of a false identity.
The PF reported that one of the companies linked to the suspect transacted more than R$13 billion between 2017 and 2021, without any tax records compatible with the transactions. There are also indications of a link between the money and the drug trade.
Even while living abroad, the suspect continued his illegal activities. A bank account controlled by him was identified, with transactions of more than R$1.4 billion in just ten months.
“This is an investigation that began as a dismantling of Operation Colossus, when it was discovered that one of the companies under the control of the person under investigation moved more than R$13 billion between credits and debits between 2017 and 2021, without providing records of issuing invoices compatible with the bank transactions collected, in addition to evidence of operations with money from drug trafficking and other crimes. — says the PF.
Due to the seriousness of the crimes and the fact that he remains outside Brazil without formally informing the authorities, the court ordered his preventive detention to ensure public order and the progress of the criminal trial.
Source: Live Coins
Barry Siefert is an accomplished journalist and author at The Nation View. He is known for his expertise in the field of cryptocurrency, and has written extensively on the topic. With a background in finance and economics, Barry has a deep understanding of the underlying technology and market forces that drive the crypto industry.
