[Brazilian Police Freeze Approximately $196 Million in Assets Linked to Crypto Money Laundering Drug Trafficking Group] Odaily Planet Daily News – Brazilian federal police, as part of Operation Commodity, targeted a drug trafficking group involved in money laundering through cryptocurrencies. Since 2021, the group has smuggled over 6.5 tons of cocaine to Europe via the Port of Rio de Janeiro, hiding the drugs in shipments of coffee, cement, and mortar. The operation spanned São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina, and Espírito Santo, with police executing 13 preventive arrests and 44 search and seizure warrants. The court ordered the seizure and freezing of assets totaling up to 1 billion Brazilian reais, approximately $196 million. Police stated that the group is connected to Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) and laundered money through a luxury car dealership in the Greater São Paulo area and shell companies. The dealership sold vehicles such as Ferrari, Porsche, Corvette, and Land Rover. The individuals involved used shell companies to issue invoices lacking supporting documentation, funneling drug trafficking proceeds into Brazil's financial system and using cryptocurrencies to obscure transactions. The suspects will face charges for transnational criminal organization involvement, international drug trafficking, and money laundering.