A federal court in Brazil sentenced 14 people to prison for laundering more than 508 million reais ($95 million) from international drug trafficking and other violent crimes, ending a years-long investigation into a sophisticated criminal network that spanned several states.
The group’s two leaders were each sentenced to more than 21 years in prison, while other sentences ranged from 8 to 17 years. All defendants were ordered to repay the full laundered amount and assets, including seized planes and luxury cars, were confiscated to the federal government.
The operation, called Terra Fértil, uncovered a scheme that used fake companies in two different states to disguise drug profits.
Prosecutors said the group had a layered structure with distinct functions: Leadership directed the flow of funds, mid-level operators acted as front men for the companies and an accounting arm kept the network running through false documents and financial deception.
According to the ruling, the network’s strategy followed a process that began with placing illicit funds into the system through small bank deposits, layering through sham corporate activities and currency exchange operations, and integration through the purchase of luxury assets.
Prosecutors cited examples such as planes registered under a bikini store and high-end real estate.
The group also used the dollar-cape system, a parallel method of international money transfer, and moved large amounts using cryptocurrencies, according to authorities. Local news outlet Livecoins cites bitcoin usage among the cryptocurrencies that are used.
The court’s decision can be appealed.
