Brazilian Federal Police arrest financial operator who moved millions in a scheme linked to an influencer.
Rodrigo de Paula Morgado was arrested by the Federal Police this Tuesday (14) during Operation Narco Bet. He is accused of coordinating a complex money laundering scheme that used cryptocurrencies and international remittances. In the same operation, the authorities arrested digital influencer Bruno Alexssander Souza Silva, known as Buzeira, identified as one of the beneficiaries of the irregular transactions.
The police operation aims to dismantle a criminal organization specializing in concealing the illicit origin of funds through sophisticated financial mechanisms. According to information from Globo Online and confirmed by BNLData, which had access to the investigation, Buzeira, who has more than 15 million followers, was already under investigation by the Civil Police for money laundering, racketeering, and operating illegal gambling due to the holding of raffles and lotteries through his Instagram profile. Documents from the investigation reveal that Morgado structured and coordinated financial transactions primarily directed towards the online betting sector, using shell companies and payment intermediaries.
A report from the Council for Financial Activities Control (Coaf) sent to the Federal Police identified Morgado as a "possible logistical and financial operator of a broad scheme for moving and laundering money." The document points to the existence of "a network of shell companies, payment intermediaries, and front men" that allowed the origin of the funds to be concealed.
Investigations show that the suspicious activities occurred before the operation was launched. In January 2024, Morgado transferred funds to Integration Empreendimentos Ltda. for the purchase of a property belonging to Buzeira.
The COAF report indicates that Morgado "played a structuring role" in the creation of a "complex money laundering system," described as "highly sophisticated transnational." The operations involved international transfers and the use of cryptocurrencies to make it difficult to trace the funds.
"The report also shows that RODRIGO MORGADO acted as attorney and legal representative for several companies used in the scheme, centralizing operational control and financial logistics of the transactions. This commanding position allowed him to circulate funds originating from illicit sources, including those related to international drug trafficking, an activity for which he is already formally under investigation," the official document points out.
The COAF (Council for Financial Activities Control) identified “hundreds” of individuals and legal entities participating in the scheme. Among the companies identified as “centers for concealing assets” are Evipes Soluções em Pagamento On-Line Ltda, Ngx Holding de Participações Societárias Ltda, Infinity Serviços Administrativos Ltda, and Buzeira Digital Ltda. These companies were allegedly “under the control or influence” of Morgado.
Morgado is described as a "veritable 'private bank' for other individuals under investigation," and the operations represent a "clear phase of integrating illicit assets into the formal economy."
According to investigators, “On January 4, 2024, for example, MORGADO made a multi-million dollar transfer to Integration Empreendimentos Ltda., related to the purchase of a property from BUZEIRA, an amount that never passed through the influencer's account. Similarly, there are records of a payment of R$ 400,000 for the purchase of a speedboat, R$ 210,000 to the company Hi Quality Importação e Comércio, and fragmented transfers totaling tens of millions of reais originating from cryptocurrency remittances, outside the official financial system, sent by GUSTAVO AFONSO RIBEIRO E LACERDA ('FEIO' or 'BRABO'), linked to the betting site BET7K.”
The investigation revealed that Buzeira Digital issued an invoice for R$ 50 million against the foreign company SUPERBET88 INTERNATIONAL NV. Morgado "guided and executed maneuvers to conceal the origin and ownership of the funds," acting as a "hidden partner" in several companies.
Bruno Alexssander, 28, became known outside his social circle after gifting soccer player Neymar with a gold chain estimated at R$2 million. The influencer's sudden fortune caught the attention of the São Paulo Civil Police in 2023. Born in the Itaquera neighborhood, in the eastern part of São Paulo, Bruno initially dreamed of being a soccer player, but ended up pursuing a career in the digital world after being laid off during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The dialogues indicate RODRIGO MORGADO's participation in the purchase of companies such as RR Participações e Intermediações de Negócios S/A, acquired for R$ 5 million with the objective of obtaining an operating license for the BRX.BET and RICO.BET platforms, which in fact belong to BUZEIRA. The involvement of both in the creation of new companies, such as BRX Gaming, Bilibank, Vision Farma, and Adega Roleta, was also identified, with a corporate structure possibly aimed at concealing assets,” the report concludes.
Interestingly, during the pandemic, the influencer received emergency aid from the federal government, totaling R$ 5,4 between April and September 2020, with four installments of R$ 1,2 and a final one of R$ 600, according to data from the Transparency Portal.
The Federal Police will continue the investigations to identify other possible individuals involved and recover assets obtained illegally. No information has been released regarding statements from the defendants' lawyers.
