Assets seized in cryptocurrency operations already exceed 2,000 million reais in Brazil. In the largest operation of the year 2022, Operation Kriptos, in Brazil, had an accumulation of R$ 400 million in cryptocurrencies, in addition to real estate, vehicles and jewelry – of illicit origin.
Rise in Crypto Crimes
Although cryptocurrencies are “free“of the state, the number of people investigated for criminal schemes continues to rise. Last year, the Federal Police in Brazil (PF) made the largest cryptocurrency seizure in history. According to the PF, R$ 150 million in crypto assets were seized, which were liquidated and are available to justice.
“Several people who have operated in cryptocurrency transactions in recent years have been investigated by the police. Many investors and companies raised the suspicion of the police for having directed the purchase of large amounts in the crypto transaction and used intermediaries to carry out the conversion. Even brokerage firms are being investigated for money laundering”, comments Dr. Ilmar Muniz, founder of the law firm Cavalcante Muniz Advogados.
Around R$2 billion in cryptocurrencies were seized in operations in recent years. The PF is preparing to launch new operations against crimes in this sector. The Police concluded in recent operations that criminal organizations are taking advantage of the lack of regulation in the sector to act, since the currency is not controlled by the State.
In addition, there are difficulties in tracking coins on open data platforms, which makes it difficult for the authorities to work. In recent years, there has been an increase in crypto-related crimes, 250% between 2019 and 2020, and more than 125% between 2020 and 2021.
With this rise of crime, the PF received training from the FBI, the US Federal Police, the CIA, the US Government Intelligence Center, and Homeland Security Investigations to combat money laundering gangs through cryptocurrencies.
CAE recently passed crypto regulation, but organized gangs take advantage of the app’s fragility to steal crypto assets and trick victims into pyramid schemes.
“Authorities are increasingly specializing in transactions. For example: Our office has been sponsoring the defense of companies that are being investigated for investing with an intermediary in the purchase of cryptocurrencies. In some of these operations that we operate, more than 7,000 companies are being investigated for more than 1 billion reais,” he says. Dr Ilmar.
For Dr. Ilmar, we must pay attention to these “miracle moves” that promise easy enrichment. According to the lawyer, it could be a scam.
“Investing in cryptocurrencies without taking some precautions can generate several problems in the criminal and tax field. People have invested a lot without worrying about the risks and without researching investment groups. Sometimes we are even approached by investors who have their assets blocked by the courts until the transactions are clarified.”.
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