On Friday, Brazilian President Lula da Silva signed a decree requiring banks to seize funds from illegal gambling sites and allocate them to the National Public Security Fund.
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The measure falls under the Anti-Mafia Law, designed to prevent the circulation of money from clandestine platforms. The seized funds will bolster the fight against the financial structures of organized crime.
Lula explained on social media that the legal process will ensure that the confiscated funds are invested in public security. Justice Minister Wellington Lima indicated that between 41% and 51% of gambling platforms in Brazil are illegal, attracting approximately 25.2 million bettors.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Dario Durigan explained that the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting will identify irregular companies and notify financial institutions, under the supervision of the Central Bank.
Following the notification, banks must freeze accounts linked to the investigated transactions. The administrative freeze will be immediate and confirmed by financial institutions within a maximum of 48 hours.
Durigan indicated that the government has identified approximately 300 operators behind nearly 50,000 websites removed from the internet, using some 30 financial institutions to process clandestine payments.
The government has not yet estimated how much money can be recovered, and in case of appeal, affected entities may file arguments. If they fail, the Attorney General’s Office (AGU) will pursue definitive expropriation.
The decision was announced after a prosecutorial operation against an illegal gambling network in Rio Grande do Norte. Investigations point to money laundering, criminal association, and crimes against consumers.
Source: teleSUR English
