Rio de Janeiro court indicts 31 smugglers.
The criminal organization operated in other countries in a smuggling and money laundering scheme; the illegal importation of cars was done through a dealership, which functioned as a financial arm and sold luxury cars to artists and soccer players.
Rio247_e Agencia Brasil - The Federal Court has indicted 31 members of a criminal organization formed by illegal gambling operators and Israelis involved in slot machine exploitation and the smuggling of imported cars. Among those indicted are José Caruzzo Escafura (known as Piruinha), his son Haylton Carlos Gomes Escafura, and the Israeli Yoram El Al, who is on Interpol's wanted list. They will face charges of smuggling, facilitating smuggling, money laundering, crimes against the public economy, and armed gang activity.
According to the Federal Police, the gang, which also operated in other countries, ran a large scheme involving slot machine exploitation, smuggling, and money laundering, both through the purchase of real estate and through the illegal importation of used cars (smuggling), sold in a dealership that functioned as the organization's financial arm.
The criminal gang was dismantled in Operation Black Ops, launched by the Federal Police on the 7th of this month. The charges were filed by five federal prosecutors before the 3rd Federal Criminal Court of Rio de Janeiro. The Federal Police investigation lasted two years and had the support of intelligence agencies from Israel, England, and the United States.
Wanted by police in Israel, the United States, Uruguay, and Brazil, Yoram El Al, the group's leader, was arrested in 2006 on charges of being the biggest international ecstasy trafficker, but Brazilian courts did not grant extradition. About two years ago, he was again investigated by the Federal Police. According to the police, the Israeli brought illegally imported cars into Brazil for the alleged offenders to sell.
The car dealership in Barra da Tijuca, under investigation by the Federal Police, sells luxury cars to singers and soccer players, in deals that reach up to R$ 1,7 million, such as the one paid for a Lamborghini. Among those under investigation are soccer players Emerson Sheik (Corinthians), Diguinho (Fluminense), Kleberson (Atlético Paranaense), and singers Latino and Belo.