Brazil News
| SAO PAULO, Brazil – The Federal Police (PF) arrested 13 people suspected of belonging to a criminal organization charged with operating slot machines and with links to the Israeli Mafia. The group is also accused of smuggling luxury cars into the country as part of a scheme to launder the gambling income.
Police also allege that they illegally trafficked in gems and tampered with the odometers of the cars that they sold to make them appear newer than they were. The Federal agents conducted raids in 14 states and the Federal District.
The Federal Police classified the group as a “well-structured transnational criminal organization.” Among those arrested today were two Israelis accused of belonging to the Abergil Family, involved in criminal activity in several countries, including loan sharking, prostitution, illegal gambling and drug trafficking. Although wanted in the United States and Uruguay, one of the Israelis has a Brazilian child and therefore cannot be extradited.
Also arrested were two Military Police reservists in Rio de Janeiro who were on active duty and who acted as security for a known bookie who was also involved in the scheme. The PF says it has strong evidence that car dealers and agents in six different states illegally imported vehicles in order to launder cash earned from illegal activities. The trade in precious stones by companies and individuals were also involved in money laundering.
Launched this morning, Friday October 7th, “Operation Black Ops” was conducted by the Federal Joint Organized Crime Task Force made up of Federal Police, Federal Tax Authorities and the Federal Prosecutors Office. The 3rd Criminal Court in Rio de Janeiro issued 22 arrest warrants and 119 search and seizure warrants.
Police seized over $50 million reals (about U.S. $28 million) in assets and cash belonging to those involved as well as luxury cars, such as, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and Cadillac.
Those arrested will be charged with money laundering, racketeering, tax evasion, and crimes against the economy. They face at least 10 years in prison and asset forfeiture.
Read also: More Articles from Brazil Dispatch
Brazilian online news source for this article: O Globo
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