Brazilian money launderer Victor Shimada used crypto and US payment systems in multi‑country scheme

Victor Shimada, a Brazilian national sanctioned by the United States for ties to the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), led a sophisticated money‑laundering operation that moved billions of reais outside the reach of authorities. The scheme, a modernized version of the illegal “dollar‑cabo” exchange, relied on simultaneous credit‑debit compensations across countries, using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and USDT, and electronic payment networks like Zelle, the U.S. equivalent of Pix. investigators disclosed that the network operated in at least five nations, including Brazil, the United States, Portugal, Paraguay and Argentina, converting foreign currencies (euros, dollars, pesos, guaraníes) into Brazilian reais without physical border transfers. Federal Police documents from Operation Exchange showed token‑tracking spreadsheets indicating individual moves of up to US$7.5 million and audio evidence of multi‑million‑dollar flows in cities such as Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles. The probe identified specific crypto wallet addresses and highlighted the role of digital tools in obscuring the illicit cash flow.

The scheme’s exposure underscores the growing use of crypto assets and cross‑border electronic platforms by organized crime groups to evade detection and tax obligations, prompting further international cooperation against money‑laundering networks.