Police block BR230m in Bahia illegal raffle probe

A VIP Carnival box in Salvador was suspended after being targeted in Operation Fake Promises, a police action investigating an alleged criminal organization linked to illegal online raffles and money laundering.

According to authorities, influencer Diogo 305 was responsible for the VIP box. Authorities said he was located at a resort in Camaçari, in the Salvador metropolitan region, and allegedly attempted to flee when approached by officers. 

Police claim the venue was used to conceal and move funds derived from unauthorized internet raffles, leading to its suspension just days before the start of Carnival.

According to Bahia’s Civil Police, courts ordered the immediate suspension of activities at the venue ahead of Carnival, alongside the blocking of BR230m in assets and the seizure of an aircraft valued at more than BR10m. 

Authorities believe the aircraft was acquired with proceeds of the alleged crimes and used to facilitate mobility and asset concealment.

Search and seizure warrants were executed against 13 individuals in Salvador, Feira de Santana and Camaçari in Bahia, as well as in São Paulo and São Bernardo do Campo. 

One person was arrested during the operation, according to local media reports.

Investigators said the group operated a structured laundering scheme involving shell companies, payment intermediaries and third parties to move funds allegedly derived from unauthorized internet raffles. 

Police allege that the amounts transacted were incompatible with the legal activities declared by those involved.

“The group operated a structured money laundering scheme through shell companies, payment intermediaries and front persons, moving funds incompatible with declared lawful activities. The financial connections of the scheme remain under deeper investigation,” said Police Chief Fábio Lordello.

Investigations into the financial flows and potential additional participants remain ongoing.