[REVISION HISTORY]

São Paulo gold theft and laundering investigation

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What changed

2026-08-24 21:54 UTC → 2026-08-25 14:14 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The São Paulo Civil Police, through the State Department of Criminal Investigations (DEIC), launched ‘Operação Ouro Reverso’ to dismantle a criminal network specializing in the theft, receipt, and trade of precious metals. The investigation focuses on the theft and laundering of gold jewelry and wedding bands. Authorities allege that companies located in the ‘Círculo de Fogo’ (Circle of Fire) area of central São Paulo were utilized to melt down stolen jewelry to destroy evidence of its origin before reintroducing the metal into the legal market. Law enforcement executed 35 judicial warrants, including 28 search and seizure orders and seven arrest warrants, across São Paulo and Guarulhos. This operation resulted in the freezing of approximately R$ 34 million in assets. Investigators have identified a three-tiered criminal structure consisting of executors who perform the thefts, processors who melt the gold, and financiers who manage money laundering through shell companies and fragmented deposits. In a follow-up phase designated as ‘Operação Ouro Reverso 2’, authorities have expanded efforts to dismantle the network, resulting in the judicial freezing of approximately R$ 34.6 million in bank accounts linked to suspects. This phase has also led to the seizure of over R$ 1.5 million in jewelry and gold. One investigative thread was reportedly sparked by a R$ 2 million gold necklace gifted to footballer Neymar in 2023, prompting police to investigate the manufacturer and the origin of the gold used. In a related incident in central São Paulo, Military Police arrested four men following a jewelry store robbery in Praça João Mendes. The suspects utilized stolen vehicles and specialized tools, such as blowtorches, to commit the crime. Following a pursuit involving cars and a public bus, police intercepted the group and recovered jewelry and various criminal materials.

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