Four arrests and nine companies seized in anti-mafia operation in Italy and Brazil | Eurojust

Eurojust supported this international operation, which targeted a notorious mafia organization. Investigations into the criminal organization revealed an extensive scheme in which money was laundered from Italy to Brazil through various companies. The operation on October 7 led to the arrest of four suspects and the seizure of nine companies in Italy, Hong Kong and Brazil.

The suspects arrested today were involved in the mafia organization and used extortion, money laundering and the fraudulent transfer of valuables to facilitate important mafia organizations. The main suspect in the plan has set up several companies in Brazil with the help of front men and shell companies. The companies were used to hide the criminal profits of mafia organizations from Italy.

The investigation revealed that other companies operating in the real estate and hospitality sectors in Italy, Hong Kong and Brazil were part of this elaborate money laundering scheme. Nine companies were seized during the operation, as well as cash worth 350,000 euros.

The operation on October 7 is the second action of a joint investigation team (JIT) set up at Eurojust between the Italian and Brazilian authorities. The JIT has been investigating the mafia organization since 2022. The first operation took place on August 13 and led to the arrest of a member of a mafia family and the freezing of assets worth 50 million euros.

Since 2022, Italian and Brazilian authorities have been investigating the activities of the mafia organization through a JIT, set up with the support of Eurojust. Their investigation revealed the organization’s activities in Switzerland and Hong Kong.

The following authorities were involved in the actions:

• Italy: Palermo Public Prosecutor’s Office – Anti-Mafia District Directorate; Guardia di Finanza – GICO (Organized Crime Investigative Group) of Palermo
• Brazil: Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office of Rio Grande do Norte