Brazilian Court Jails 14 in $95M Crypto Money Laundering Case Linked to Drug Trafficking

A federal court in Brazil has sentenced 14 individuals to prison for laundering over 508 million reais ($95 million) through cryptocurrency. The funds were linked to international drug trafficking and violent crimes, marking the culmination of a multi-year investigation into a sophisticated criminal network.

Operation Terra Fértil exposed a web of shell companies—including Kaupan, DG Cerealista, and AG Intermediações—that masked illicit proceeds under the guise of legitimate businesses like food trading and cattle breeding. The group operated for five years across Uberlândia and Foz do Iguaçu, using crypto to obscure money flows from drug trafficking and kidnappings.

Federal Police and Gaeco spearheaded the probe, revealing a corporate structure deliberately designed to confuse authorities. The case underscores crypto's dual-edge: while offering financial innovation, it remains a tool for illicit finance when governance lags.