MC Ryan SP among influencers arrested in suspected $300m money-laundering ring raids

Police have arrested the Brazilian media personalities and musicians MC Poze do Rodo and MC Ryan SP, accusing the duo of helping to mastermind a $300 million money-laundering ring.

Brazilian courts have issued around 40 arrest warrants as part of a major police operation. Other arrestees include Raphael Sousa, the owner of the entertainment website Choquei.

Investigators say they found evidence the influencers and dozens of others helped launder funds from illegal betting networks and drug-trafficking rings stored in files on an accountant’s iCloud account, Brazilian newspaper O Globo reported.

“[We have launched] an operation with the aim of dismantling a criminal organisation dedicated to the illicit movement of funds through cryptocurrencies in Brazil and abroad,” Federal Police said in an official release.

The high-profile arrests come as crypto-powered money laundering cases continue to rise in Brazil, as police continue to crack down on offenders. Last year, a Brazilian court jailed 14 people who used Bitcoin to launder $95 million worth of drug money.

Boats, aircraft seized

The latest batch of arrests saw around 200 officers raid 24 addresses in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Pernambuco, Espírito Santo, Maranhão, Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Goiás on April 15.

During their raids, police seized weapons including automatic rifles, expensive cars, boats, aircraft, cash, jewelry, and electronic equipment.

Federal Police did not disclose whether they found any crypto during their raids and did not disclose any further details about the gang’s alleged crypto transactions.

The authorities say the case is still active, with dozens of individuals still under surveillance.

An iCloud ‘map’

Police said they want to charge the suspects with organised crime, money laundering, and tax evasion-related offenses.

The iCloud account acted as a “map” for detectives, said police, as they attempted to unpick a tangled web of shell companies and bogus bank accounts that finally led them to the suspects.

Courts have granted detectives access to the accountant’s electrical devices, as well as his Google Drive files.

The Federal Police say Ryan SP used music production and entertainment companies to mix “legitimate revenues” with funds laundered from illegal online casino platforms and scam networks.

The influencers and their aquaintances reinvested the laundered funds “in real estate, luxury cars, jewelry, and other high-value assets,” said police.

Tim Alper is a News Correspondent at DL News. Got a tip? Email him at [email protected].