The operation launched by the Civil Police of Pernambuco, on the morning of this Wednesday (4), resulted in the freezing of financial assets exceeding R$ 2 billion. In the action, assets of those investigated were also seized, such as luxury cars and watches, real estate, aircraft and boats.
According to police, 11 Rolex watches, jewelry and boats are also among the seized goods.
A helicopter, jewelry and wines valued at around R$2,000 were also found with the targets.
In São Paulo, the civil police supported the operation by seizing a luxury car and an airplane in the cities of Barueri and Jundiaí, respectively. The airplane is registered to the company Balada Eventos e Produções LTDA. The company’s partner is singer Gusttavo Lima.
According to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) records, the Cessna 560XLS aircraft can accommodate up to 9 passengers and is used for private air services, and cannot operate air taxis. Although Gusttavo Lima’s company is listed as the owner of the aircraft, the operation of the jet, according to ANAC, is the responsibility of the company JMJ Participações.
In a note sent to CNN lawyer Cláudio Bessas, who represents Balada Eventos, reported that the plane was sold “through a purchase and sale agreement, duly registered with RAB-ANAC to the company JMJ Participações”.
Operation Integration aims to curb money laundering and illegal gambling. According to investigators, the criminal organization under investigation is believed to have moved R$3 billion from illegal gambling.
Lawyer and influencer Deolane Bezerra and her mother, Solange Alves, were arrested in the same operation. Deolane’s sister spoke out on social media about the arrest. Deolane herself wrote an “open letter” on her Instagram, asking for support from her more than 20 million followers.
The investigation was supported by the Financial Activities Control Council (COAF) and the International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol. Around 170 agents are on the streets of the cities of Recife (PE), Campina Grande (PB), Barueri (SP), Cascavel (PR), Curitiba (PR) and Goiânia (GO).
In total, 19 arrest warrants and 24 search and seizure warrants, issued by the 12th Criminal Court of the District of Recife, are being served in cities in five states.
About the investigations
According to authorities, the investigation began in December 2022, after the seizure of approximately R$180,000. Since then, the operation has been expanding the range of information and data collected, culminating in today’s action.
The officer responsible for the operation explained that the money laundering scheme is divided into three phases: placement, concealment and integration of the money into the assets of those involved. The current phase of the operation, called “Integration”, aims to combat precisely this last stage.
“We are investigating a criminal organization that originated through operations in the illegal gambling sector and basically the criminal organization has the function and the large volume of money it generates from its primary activity, the need to operate in the field of money laundering in order to have its assets regularized,” said the delegate during a press conference.
This content was originally published in Airplane, luxury cars, jewelry and wines are seized in operation against gambling on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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