The Sicilian Mafia’s Brazilian real estate empire has collapsed

In a coordinated operation across three countries, law enforcement authorities have dealt a major blow to a sophisticated money laundering operation run by a leading Sicilian mafia family.

The operation resulted in the arrest of a key suspect, the freezing of assets worth €50 million and the dismantling of a Cosa Nostra investment network.

The investigation, which lasted more than two years, uncovered a complex scheme in which criminal profits, estimated at more than €500 million, were reinvested in several companies in Brazil.

The operation was a joint effort between Italian, Brazilian and Swiss authorities, with the support of Eurojust, the European Union agency for criminal justice cooperation.

According to officials, the organized crime group (OCG) was involved in various criminal activities, including extortion, money laundering and fraudulent transfer of valuables. The group allegedly supported other major mafia families and used a global network of financial professionals to invest their illicit profits.

The investigation revealed that in 2016, the suspects shifted their focus to Brazil, where they set up several companies using front men and shell companies. These companies were primarily involved in large real estate and construction projects along Brazil’s northeast coast, providing an effective front for laundering criminal proceeds.

During the day of action, authorities carried out 21 searches across Italy, mainly targeting the homes of OCG members and their business offices.

In Brazil, authorities arrested a suspect believed to be a senior member of the Mafia family who had moved to Natal to oversee the group’s activities. Swiss authorities also raided the home of an Italian businessman suspected of involvement in the scheme.

The frozen assets, worth €50 million, belong to 17 individuals under investigation and 12 companies active in the real estate, construction and hospitality sectors. Among the seized properties is a well-known hotel in Italy, which authorities believe was used to launder criminal profits.