Brazilian Police Launch Nationwide Compliance Operation to Combat Cryptocurrency Money Laundering

Brazil’s federal police have launched a nationwide compliance operation to combat money laundering related to cryptocurrencies. The operation has mobilized 150 federal police officers in five cities and has executed 34 search and seizure warrants.

In addition, federal courts issued more than 30 orders to freeze bank accounts and cryptocurrency portfolios. The compliance operation grew out of an investigation launched in 2018, in which police targeted a series of cryptocurrency-related money laundering crimes on the Internet. Brazil has been stepping up its investigations, and last month, the country's police seized more than $33 million related to exchanges and shell companies.

Earlier this month, a Brazilian federal court ordered for the first time the sale of seized bitcoin, valued at $1.1 million, to repay some of investors’ losses.