A Brazilian federal court has sentenced 14 people to prison for laundering more than 508 million reais (about $95 million) from international drug trafficking and other violent crimes, ending a years-long investigation into a sophisticated criminal network spanning multiple states.
The group’s two leaders were each sentenced to more than 21 years in prison, with other sentences ranging from eight to 17 years. All defendants were ordered to repay the amount laundered in full, and the seized assets, including planes and luxury cars, were forfeited to the federal government.
The operation, called Terra Fertil, uncovered a scheme to disguise drug profits using fake companies spread across two different states.
Prosecutors say the group operated a hierarchical structure with clear roles, with leadership directing the flow of funds, mid-level operators acting as corporate frontmen, and an accounting department keeping the network running through forged documents and financial tricks.
According to the ruling, the network’s strategy began by injecting illicit funds into the system through small bank deposits, stratified through false corporate activities and foreign exchange manipulation, and consolidated through the purchase of high-end assets.
Prosecutors cited bikini shops and airplanes registered as luxury real estate as examples.
This group also dollar cape Authorities say they used the system, a parallel international money transfer method, to send large sums of money using cryptocurrencies. Local news station Livecoins mentions the use of Bitcoin BTC$91,878.33 Among the cryptocurrencies used.
Court decisions may be appealed.
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