The operation targets the family responsible for millionaire Jogo do Bicho’s scheme in South Carolina.

Members of the same family from Blumenau, in the Itajai Valley, who have been exploiting jogo do bicho illegally and with impunity for more than ten years, were arrested this Friday morning (03) in Operation Bank Break. A total of 21 search and seizure warrants were executed against 14 people suspected of illegal use in Blumenau, Cásador, Santa Cecilia, Gaspar, Balneario Camboriu, Itapema, Florianopolis, as well as in the cities of Quinta do Sol and Cianorte in Parana jogo do bicho. .

The operation targets the family members responsible for the million dollar jogo do bicho scheme in South Carolina. Photo: Disclosure/Policia Civil/Reproduction/ND

Blumenau’s civil police spokesman Ronnie Esteves said that about two years ago, Blumenau’s Criminal Investigation Department launched an investigation to combat the exploitation of game animals in the city. In the towns of Vale do Itajaí, 11 warrants were awarded in Blumenau and one in Gaspar.

During this time, the police discovered that members of the same family had been using jogo do bicho illegally and with impunity for more than a decade. The investigation also found that this criminal group led a life of luxury, and also “laundered” money from “jogo do bicho” by purchasing cars, houses, apartments, boats, jet skis, farms and other goods.

The civilian police demonstrated that this core family had relationships only with people associated with the exploitation of jogo do bicho. In less than 2 years, the jogo do bicho criminal group has transferred more than 15 million reais. Of this amount, most of it was deposited by the defendants themselves in smaller amounts in an attempt to hide the criminal origin of the funds, as well as to avoid verification by regulatory authorities.

Two of those under investigation, despite the movement of millionaires in their bank accounts, received emergency assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the searches in Blumenau, the chief operator of the Jogo do Bicho bank was arrested red-handed for crimes of money laundering and criminal organization, as well as for the criminal misdemeanor of Jogo do Bicho, since, in addition to proving the operation of the game do bicho bank, with agreements on renting game research points, game excerpts, game notes and various documents, he kept a safe at home with BRL 32,060 in cash, US$2,500 and checks totaling BRL 338,000.

Operation “Bank Break” was carried out in Blumenau – Photo: Disclosure/Policia Civil/Reproduction/ND

In addition to these valuables, the civilian police confiscated an amount of 16,000 reais in cash at the home of the two suspects. In the cities of Santa Cecilia and Cásador, civilian police confiscated jogo do bicho machines, as well as documents related to the criminal offense. In Balneario Camboriu and Itapema, the civilian police also confiscated documents relating to the hunting of animals. An advisor from Santa Cecilia and a reserve military police officer from the state of Santa Catarina were also searched and confiscated.

Civilian police served 21 search and seizure warrants – Disclosure/Civilian Police/Reproduction/ND

The civilian police participated in the operation through the Blumenau Criminal Investigation Unit with the support of DEIC, Balneario Camboriu DIC, Cásadora DIC, Traffic and Environmental Crimes Police Station (DTCA), Anti-Corruption Police Station (DECOR), Police Station for Protection of Women, Children and Adolescents (DPCAMI) and police stations in Blumenau (1st and 2nd), Timbo, Azcurra, Pomerode, Gaspar and Santa Cecilia, as well as the 21st Police Unit Cianorte and the Police Station Engineer Beltrao from Paranas.

Investigations are ongoing so that the game will not be intimidated by the actions of the state, civilian police say.

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