Businessman Arrested in Brazil on Mafia and Money Laundering Charges – General News

An Italian businessman who has worked in Brazil for years was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of mafia crimes and money laundering in a joint Italian-Brazilian operation.


The Palermo tax police and the Brazilian federal police have arrested the businessman Giuseppe Bruno, originally from Bagheria near Palermo, who had long since moved to Natal, Brazil, judicial sources in the Sicilian capital reported.


According to them, an investigation by the Palermo Anti-Mafia Investigation Service (DDA) and the Second Federal Court of Rio Grande Do Norte has uncovered an organization that allegedly laundered mafia money in business ventures in the South American country.


Police have seized approximately 50 million euros, as well as assets and properties belonging to 17 individuals (all suspects are under investigation) and 12 companies active in the real estate, construction and hospitality sectors.


According to the sources, searches were carried out in several Italian regions, in Brazil and in Switzerland.

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