Italian businessman arrested in Brazil in mafia investigation

14/8/2024 11:24

        An Italian businessman was arrested in the Brazilian city of Natal as part of an international investigation into a mafia network worth an estimated 500 million euros ($550 million), Italy's financial police said on Tuesday.
        
        The police said in a statement, the man, named as Giuseppe Bruno, faces charges including extortion, money laundering and external complicity in mafia association.
        
        Brazilian police said the mafia scheme has invested around 55 million euros in Brazil in real estate properties and on the financial market. According to Italian authorities the total value of invested assets could exceed 500 million euros.
        
        The statement said, the investigation revealed "traces of substantial investments of mafia-related capital in business ventures and companies."
        
        The investigations started in 2022 and involved Italian, Brazilian and Swiss police agencies.
        
        They led to the seizure of assets worth 50 million euros and charges against 17 people and 12 real estate, construction and restoration businesses in the three countries.