Brazil’s Public Prosecutor's Office of the State of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ) has carried out an operation against alleged administrators of clandestine bingo halls said to be linked to gambling figure Rogério Andrade, resulting in four arrests.
According to prosecutors, six individuals were charged by the Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime (Gaeco) with criminal organization offenses.
Preventive arrest warrants were executed in the neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro’s West Zone.
The defendants are accused of managing an illegal bingo venue known as Espaço Classe A Recreio.
Investigators mentioned a high daily volume of cash transactions and alleged financial harm to players.
Authorities also referenced an audio file obtained during the investigation in which one suspect allegedly instructed staff on bonus payments to bettors, including requiring signatures and imposing a 40-minute minimum play period before bonuses could be collected.
"You're going to control the bonuses. The client will only be able to get bonuses after 40 minutes of playing, okay? That's a huge responsibility," says Andrade in the audio.
The operation comes after the public release of testimony from former military police officer Ronnie Lessa, who is now serving a 78-year sentence for the murders of councilwoman Marielle Franco and her driver Anderson Gomes.
In earlier statements, Lessa admitted involvement in illegal gambling ventures and alleged partnerships with Andrade, as well as corruption arrangements with police officials.
According to Lessa, in the illegal gambling underworld, each territory has a leader.
Therefore, before opening a bingo hall, he sought out Andrade to finalize the partnership, as he couldn't "simply open a bingo hall" without authorization from whoever controlled the area.
Several former officers cited in his testimony have denied wrongdoing, and disciplinary proceedings remain ongoing.
In a statement, Rio’s Civil Police said it does not tolerate misconduct and reiterated its commitment to combating organized crime.
Police in Campinas, São Paulo, recently shut down an illegal bingo hall for the fourth time
