Federal Police Seize Record BRL 9.5 Billion from Organized Crime in Brazil

Record-Breaking Seizures Mark Federal Police's 2025 Efforts

The Federal Police of Brazil has announced a substantial achievement in its fight against organized crime, reporting the seizure of BRL 9.5 billion (Brazilian Reais) in assets between January and November 2025. This figure represents a significant increase of 57% compared to the BRL 6.1 billion seized in the same period of the previous year, 2024. The announcement was made by Director-General Andrei Rodrigues on Monday, December 15, 2025, during a press conference in Brasília.

Targeting the Financial Backbone of Criminal Organizations

Director-General Rodrigues emphasized that the primary strategy behind these operations is the 'decapitalization' of organized crime, focusing on disrupting the financial structures that sustain criminal networks. He stated, 'It's not the poor black people in the favelas. We need to confront those who finance, who have resources, who run organized crime and lead organized structures, and who have rarely set foot in a favela.' The seized assets encompass a wide range of valuables, including cash, real estate, boats, aircraft, cryptocurrencies, and gold. Funds found in the bank accounts of investigated individuals were also part of the seizures.

Operational Efficiency and Increased Activity

The Federal Police's 2025 balance sheet also highlighted an increase in operational activity and efficiency. The corporation conducted 3,310 approved operations, an increase from 3,133 in 2024. Furthermore, 2,413 arrest warrants were served, up from 2,184 in the previous year. The average time for concluding inquiries also saw an improvement, decreasing from 465 days in 2024 to 444 days in 2025, indicating a more agile investigative process.

Integrated Efforts and Future Outlook

The Integrated Force for Combating Organized Crime (FICCO) played a crucial role in these results, contributing significantly to the overall seizures. FICCO alone accounted for 215 operations, leading to 978 arrests and the execution of 1,551 search and seizure warrants. The value decapitalized by FICCO's actions totaled BRL 163.31 million. Rodrigues also used the opportunity to criticize the decision by the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) to release Deputy Rodrigo Bacellar, who had been arrested by the Federal Police on suspicion of leaking sensitive information related to a major operation against organized crime. These comprehensive efforts underscore the Federal Police's intensified commitment to dismantling criminal organizations by targeting their financial foundations across Brazil.