Brazil Sentences 14 for Using Crypto, Shell Firms in $95M Drug Money Laundering Case

A federal court in Brazil sentenced 14 people for laundering over 508 million reais ($95 million) derived from international drug trafficking and violent crimes, concluding a multi-year investigation into a sophisticated criminal network. The two leaders received over 21 years in prison, with other sentences ranging from 8 to 17 years. All defendants must repay the laundered amount, and assets like planes and luxury cars were forfeited. The scheme, dubbed Operation Terra Fértil, utilized fake companies across multiple states to disguise drug profits through a layered structure involving leadership, front-men, and an accounting arm. The money laundering process involved placing illicit funds via small bank deposits, layering through false corporate activity and foreign exchange operations, and integrating the funds through luxury asset purchases, including real estate and aircraft. Authorities noted the network also employed the dólar-cabo system and moved significant amounts using cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin.

(Source：CoinDesk)