Just one of the companies used by bicheiro Bernardo Bello to launder money from the exploitation of the animal game in Rio de Janeiro handled almost R$80 million in eight months in 2021, according to the General Department for Combating Corruption, Organized Crime and to Money Laundering (DGCOR-LD), of the Civil Police.
Furthermore, two other companies would have moved over R$80 million since 2020. The investigative work had the support of the Intelligence and Asset Recovery Committee (Cifra), made up of federal and civilian police officers.
The Civil Police also informed that it requested the seizure of all vehicles, vessels, shares and properties, among others, linked to the companies involved in the scheme, in addition to the blocking of account balances and any assets, rights and values and the constriction of cryptoassets of members of the criminal organization.
Bello and seven other suspects of involvement in a criminal organization that practiced money laundering had their arrest ordered and were the target of the third phase of the oAce of Diamonds operation, from the Police and the Public Ministry, on Thursday (7). Five arrest warrants issued by the Court were served in penitentiaries. Three suspects, including the bookie, were not found and remain at large.
In the action, search and seizure warrants were also executed at several addresses linked to the group.
The operation is the result of an investigation that investigated the death of lawyer Carlos Daniel Dias, in Niterói, in the metropolitan region of Rio, in 2022. In previous actions, the perpetrators of the murder of the criminalist, who was allegedly killed while trying to mediate, were identified and arrested a conflict involving one of the companies linked to the scheme.
Bicheiro Bernardo Bello is one of the leaders of crime in Rio, responsible for exploiting Jogo do Bicho and slot machines in several regions.
Former president of the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school, he came to lead the Jogo do Bicho in part of Rio de Janeiro after the death of his ex-father-in-law, the bicheiro known as Maninho Garcia, murdered in 2004. Since then there has been several disputes over the power of game points involving the Garcia family.
Source: CNN Brasil
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