Federal Police fight Italian mafia money laundering in Brazil

Brazilian federal police agents and prosecutors, supported by Italian prosecutors and the European country’s Guardia di Finanza, launched Operation Arancia on Tuesday (Aug. 13).

In a statement, the police said the probes began in 2022, targeting a criminal organization suspected of laundering money for the Italian mafia in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte, where they believe the mobsters have been operating for almost a decade.

“The evidence collected so far indicates that the Italian mafia used shell companies and front men to facilitate the transfer and concealment of illicit funds from international criminal activities,” the statement reads.

“It is estimated that the scheme invested no less than BRL 300 million (some €55 million) in Brazil, using these funds to acquire properties and infiltrate the Brazilian real estate and financial markets,” the agents go on to state.

However, the total value of the assets invested could exceed €500 million at current values, Italian authorities reported.

The operation is said to have resulted in a warrant for the arrest of “a mobster” and five search and seizure warrants in three Brazilian states: Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, and Piauí.

Combined efforts

“The Palermo District Anti-mafia Directorate in Italy simultaneously coordinated 21 searches across various regions of Italy and Switzerland. Over 100 Italian financial agents were mobilized, some of whom are in Brazil helping carry out the warrants in Natal city,” the federal police declared.

The crimes investigated include mafia association, extortion, money laundering, and fraudulent transfer of values, with the aggravating factor of supporting mafia families.

As part of the measures to dismantle the scheme and recover financial assets, federal courts have authorized the seizure of properties and the blocking of bank accounts associated with the suspects and the shell companies involved, the federal agents said.

“These efforts are aimed at guaranteeing reparation for the damage caused by the illicit activities and preventing the continuation of the criminal operations,” the police concluded saying.