Germany joins Brazil in arresting influencer over illegal betting and drug-linked money laundering
Authorities seized luxury cars, jewellery, cash and over BR630m ($114m) in assets were frozen across four states.
Key Points
- Influencer Bruno “Buzeira” Silva arrested amid a Federal Police operation targeting drug-linked money laundering
- Investigations suggest funds were channeled through online betting platforms
- Operation Narco Bet also involved German Federal Criminal Police
The Brazilian Federal Police arrested influencer Bruno Alexssander Souza Silva, known as “Buzeira,” as part of a nationwide operation against a large-scale money laundering network tied to international drug trafficking.
Codenamed Operation Narco Bet, the action was carried out across São Paulo, Santa Catarina, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, with 11 arrest warrants and 19 search and seizure orders executed.
Authorities also froze assets and accounts totalling more than BR630m, while seizing imported luxury cars, jewellery and large sums of cash.
According to investigators, part of the illicit proceeds were allegedly funneled into online betting operations.
Buzeira, who has more than 15 million followers, became famous for running raffles and giveaways of cars and luxury items on social media.
The operation included international cooperation from Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt), which carried out an arrest warrant against one of the suspects residing in German territory.
Good to know: In another case, a separate influencer-led illegal raffle network worth over BR33m was dismantled
His lawyer, Felipe Campos, stated that Morgado “is innocent” and that his activities were “limited to legitimate accounting services.”
Federal Police said the suspects used cryptocurrencies and offshore transfers to disguise the origin of criminal funds. Those involved may face charges of money laundering and criminal association with evidence of transnational activity.
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