An exclusive survey by Veja magazine identified 31 digital influencers suspected of laundering around R$7 billion for the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) through unauthorized bets.
The investigation covers five states, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte and Rio Grande do Sul, and spans the past five years.
According to the survey, the influencers, who together have 149 million followers, act as a front for betting platforms without authorization from the Ministry of Justice, many of them registered abroad.
The money raised would be passed on to the factions via banks, fintechs, straw men, shell companies and crypto assets, with profits split evenly between the faction and the influencer.
“Illegal betting houses are top priority in the hunt for these influencers’ activities,” said Ricardo Morishita Wada, Secretary of Consumer Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, to Veja.
Among the cases mentioned in the survey is that of Vanessa Freires, a resident of Duque de Caxias (RJ) banned from social media by court order, identified as responsible for moving R$500 thousand for the CV.
Luíza Ferreira and Natacha Silva, also named in the investigation, deny any involvement in illegal activity.
The Ministry of Finance reported that this year it removed 243 illegal betting apps and around 1,000 influencer pages linked to clandestine sites or violations of sector rules.
The case reignites the debate over affiliate due diligence in the regulated market.
The case comes amid ongoing regulatory discussions about advertising in Brazil’s betting sector, including PL 1018/2026 and recent advertising restrictions in states such as Minas Gerais and São Paulo.