On Friday morning (5/12), the Federal Police (PF) launched Operation Alpha to dismantle a gang responsible for encouraging the illegal immigration of at least 220 Brazilians secretly sent to the United States.
This action included a preventive arrest warrant and five search and seizure warrants in the cities of Governador Valladares (MG), Itanhumi (MG) and São Paulo (SP).
The Federal Court also ordered the freezing of goods and valuables worth R$23.7 million, an amount attributed to the profit obtained by the gang.
How the scheme worked
According to the investigation, the group operated international routes passing through Central America and Mexico, the last stage before illegally crossing into US territory.
Upon arrival in Mexico, the migrants were handed over to the “coyotes” responsible for completing the clandestine crossing.
The forum noted that criminals in Brazil threatened victims’ families to ensure full payment of debts, which were often collected in dollars.
The amounts were transferred through third-party accounts, a strategy used to hide the source of the funds and make them difficult to trace.
On the American side, the scheme had a support network responsible for receiving migrants, organizing exoduses, providing local payments to wolves, and strengthening the transnational structure of the pack.
Investigation and crimes charged
The Palestinian Police is investigating the participation of several financial and logistical entities in the criminal structure, which acted in a continuous and organized manner.
Those investigated may face charges of promoting illegal immigration, threats, and money laundering. Combined sentences can exceed 20 years.