# Brazilian Police Bust $196 Million Drug and Crypto Laundering Ring 6.5 tons of cocaine shipped to Europe, laundered via luxury car dealerships and cryptocurrency. - **Source:** [Bitcoin News](https://brifing.si/source/d8aeaf1e-9839-4dad-9d25-7a6bf3fbeef8) - **Published:** 2026-07-27 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/882a9ff3-8e5b-4e9a-b60c-b47692ca9204 ## Scope of the Operation Brazilian Federal Police dismantled a ring that shipped 6.5 tons of cocaine to Europe and laundered money using crypto. Operation Commodity led to 13 arrests and the freezing of $196 million in assets. The gang concealed drugs in coffee and cement bags for transport. ## Money Laundering Tactics The ring used a luxury car dealership and shell companies to launder drug money, with cryptocurrency playing a key role in obscuring transactions. Fake invoices were issued to funnel illicit funds into Brazil's financial system. ## International Ties The group had links to PCC and CV, criminal organizations designated as global terrorists. These groups were also targeted in Operation Exchange, which recently took down a $2 billion crypto laundering network. ## Operation Details Raids were conducted simultaneously in São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina, and Espírito Santo. 44 search warrants were executed, with one suspect killed in a shootout. Courts froze assets worth 1 billion reais ($196 million). ## Drugs Bound for Europe Since 2021, the gang shipped tons of cocaine to France, Belgium, Germany, Slovenia, and Spain. A logistics network spanning South America, Europe, and Asia was used, with Rio de Janeiro's port serving as the main hub. ## Impact and Significance This operation highlights cryptocurrency's growing role in international drug trafficking. Brazilian authorities exposed how criminals exploit financial loopholes, setting a precedent for future crackdowns on similar networks. ## Sources covering this story - https://news.bitcoin.com/operation-commodity-brazilian-police-smash-196-million-cocaine-and-crypto-laundering-ring/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._