The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro initiated an operation on Monday against a scheme of bank fraud and money laundering connected to the criminal organization Comando Vermelho (CV), which is believed to have processed at least R$ 136 million within a year. The operation spans across two states, primarily focusing on locations in Rio de Janeiro as well as the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, with law enforcement agents executing 38 search and seizure warrants across these regions.

According to a statement from the police, in addition to the searches, there are measures in place to freeze the assets, including luxury properties and bank accounts belonging to those involved in the fraudulent activities. During the operation, agents discovered a stolen Jaguar car in the garage of a house situated in Baixada Fluminense, leading to the arrest of a suspect who was apprehended in the Região dos Lagos while trying to evade capture.

This investigation was prompted by reports from a financial institution that flagged suspicious activities concerning the opening of business accounts and fraudulent loans being issued. The scale and organization of this fraud operation highlight the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in combating sophisticated criminal enterprises that exploit banking systems.