The charges filed by prosecutors list the crimes of money laundering, misrepresentation, and use of false documents within the scope of Operation Nexus, conducted by the Civil Police of the Federal District.
“[It’s] the result of joint efforts from the agency and the institutions in the national push against corruption and money laundering, targeting illegal mining and the crimes associated with it,” said the director of Brazil’s mining authority.
The crackdown was launched by the Federal Police in North and Northeast Brazil on Friday. One of the individuals targeted is Roraima governor’s sister.
Investigations show that Italians and Brazilians created shell companies registered with false identities and acquired more than 300 properties on the coast of Santa Catarina.
During the probes, investigators found that the criminals used airplanes to transport cocaine acquired in Peru and Bolivia to Europe, using the state in Central-West Brazil for storage.