Brazilian authorities have revealed new details in a major investigation into illegal betting, with audio evidence indicating that artist MC Ryan SP charged up to BR400,000 per day to promote gambling platforms.
The development follows a large-scale operation by the Federal Police targeting a suspected BR1.6bn money laundering scheme linked to illegal betting and online raffles.
Brazilian funk singers MC Ryan SP and MC Poze do Rodo were arrested earlier this week, with searches carried out at high-end properties in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
According to investigators, the artists played a role in enabling financial flows by allowing their bank accounts to be used to circulate funds of illicit origin, which were then mixed with legitimate income such as music earnings and performance fees.
Audio obtained during the investigation suggests that social media promotions were a key revenue stream. In one exchange, an intermediary approaches MC Ryan SP about advertising an illegal betting platform.
He responds: “Since he’s your friend, let’s do it for BR300,000, but if he’s not that close, you can tell him it’s BR400,000.”
Authorities say the scheme relied heavily on influencers’ reach to attract users and move money at scale. Large sums were allegedly broken down into hundreds of smaller transactions to avoid triggering financial monitoring systems, for example, splitting BR5m into multiple BR10,000 transfers.
The investigation also identified a restaurant in São Paulo, registered under a relative’s name, which is suspected of being used to receive deposits linked to the operation. Police noted that the volume and pattern of transactions were inconsistent with the business’s activity.
Authorities have seized assets worth around BR20m as investigations continue into the wider network
