Brazil’s Federal Justice has annulled a series of judicial decisions related to the Integration Operation, a police investigation that examined an alleged money laundering scheme connected to illegal gambling activities.
The ruling determined that the state judiciary lacked jurisdiction to rule on parts of the case involving crimes of federal competence, particularly money laundering.
As a result, all evidence gathered by Pernambuco’s Civil Police must now be transferred to the Federal Police, which will continue the investigation alongside the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The judge ruled that state courts may only assess aspects linked to alleged contraventions such as the jogo do bicho, while offenses with national or transnational implications fall under federal jurisdiction.
Among those investigated in the Integration Operation are influencer Deolane Bezerra, her mother Solange Bezerra and operator Esportes da Sorte.
Bezerra has previously been linked to investigations involving the promotion of online gambling schemes, after being named in a lawsuit that alleged her participation in an illegal betting and money laundering structure tied to online games of chance.
The inquiry, opened in 2024, focused on suspected laundering of funds derived from illegal gambling.
The case was initially transferred to federal jurisdiction after a state judge identified potential signs of capital flight, tax evasion and crimes against the national financial system, concluding that the alleged conduct exceeded the limits of state-level competence.
While the Integration Operation is now under federal review, enforcement actions linked to influencer-led gambling schemes continue at state level.
In Maranhão, police recently arrested Otávio Vitor, brother of influencer Tainá Sousa, after he repeatedly violated a court order prohibiting the use of social media.
Authorities allege that the group used online platforms to promote illegal gambling games, known in Brazil as “Jogo do Tigrinho”, through deceptive promises of high and fast returns.
Investigators claim the organization relied on influencers to attract players, intermediaries to manage recruitment via messaging apps and individuals tasked with laundering illicit proceeds.
Judicial measures included the blocking of more than BR11.4m ($2.2m) in assets and the seizure of luxury vehicles.
Influencers in Brazil ran iPhone giveaways that required followers to register with and place bets on a Superbet platform, raising scrutiny over misleading promotion practices
