Brazil: Police uncover faction scheme controlling lotteries in Ceará
Police uncovered a scheme where the faction seized betting machines and forced vendors to use its own terminals, keeping half the profits.
An investigation by the Ceará Civil Police revealed that the criminal faction Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP), originally from Rio de Janeiro, established control over local betting activity in themetropolitan region of the state capital, Fortaleza.
According to police findings, the group seized online lottery terminals from independent vendors and replaced them with its own machines to monopolize operations and collect 50% of all profits generated.
The scheme targeted sellers operating in the neighbourhoods where vendors typically manage state lottery bets on behalf of clients.
Police reports indicate that TCP members approached these workers and pressured them to process wagers through the faction’s terminals.
In return, the winnings were to be paid directly by the group, which used official draws from the state-run lottery to determine results.
Essentially, the faction exploited the official lottery draws to legitimize its own betting activity and claim a share of the winnings.
Ceará’s state-lottery, responsible for legal games in the state, operates under regulated conditions.
Those who refused to cooperate were threatened and banned from working in the region. At least 13 vendors abandoned their businesses out of fear, while others avoided filing formal complaints to escape reprisals.
The police arrested three men on charges of criminal organization and threats. All have prior records linked to drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession.
A 16-year-old who was with them was questioned and later released.
Authorities continue investigating the extent of the faction’s control and its potential links to broader illegal gambling networks across the state.
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