PF targets international trafficking and money laundering of up to R$1 billion

Federal and state police officers carried out nine of the 13 preventive arrest warrants issued by the Federal Court, in addition to 44 search and seizure warrants, in four states of the federation: São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina and Espírito Santo.

The Court also ordered compliance with other precautionary measures, in addition to the seizure of assets and freezing of assets of individuals and legal entities under investigation up to a limit of R$1 billion. Operation Commodity was developed in the context of Missão Redentor II and had the support of the Integrated Force to Combat Organized Crime (Ficco) in the states of São Paulo (SP) and Minas Gerais (MG).

Confrontation

During the execution of an arrest warrant against one of the people being investigated, in the city of Igaratá (SP), in the Vale do Paraíba of São Paulo, the target, who was allegedly linked to the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), resisted arrest and reacted by shooting at the police officers.

In the exchange of gunfire, the man was hit and received first aid, but he did not resist and died in the mansion he occupied. No police officer was injured in the action.

International trafficking

Investigations revealed that the criminal group structured a logistics network with branches in South America, Europe and Asia, focused on the maritime export of cocaine to the European continent.

The actions also showed that, since 2021, the organization has sent around 6.5 tons of cocaine to several countries in Europe, as well as maintaining operational links with the two largest criminal factions operating in Brazil, the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and the Comando Vermelho (CV).

To hide the drug in containers and circumvent customs inspection, criminals used the method of camouflaging the drug in coffee bags, cement and mortar, in addition to chemical adulteration of substances. An example would be cocaine diluted in soda bottles.

In September 2025, around half a ton of cocaine hidden in coffee bags was seized at the Port of Rio de Janeiro. The shipment would go to Slovenia, a small country in central Europe, which borders Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Italy.

Money laundering

The criminal group moved billion-dollar amounts through a financial macrostructure of asset concealment. The scheme operated under different types of money laundering, which included “notary” companies, created to issue false and fake invoices; “crypto money changers"; luxury goods and high-end real estate.

Those investigated will respond, to the extent of their responsibilities, for the crimes of transnational criminal organization, international drug trafficking and money laundering, without prejudice to any other crimes that may be revealed during the investigation.

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