The Federal Police is investigating the involvement of football player Diego Costa, from Atlético-MG, in “alleged practice of exploitation of games of chance, money laundering, evasion of currency and criminal organization involving the gambling site ESPORTENET, its owners, financial operators and financier”, according to the official note of the PF.
The investigations are part of Operation Distraction and take place in Sergipe, the 32-year-old attacker’s home state. The sixth Federal Court of Itabaiana issued seven search and seizure warrants: two in Itabaiana-SE, one in Lagarto-SE (city of Diego Costa), two in Simão Dias-SE, one in Salvador and one in São Paulo.
According to an article by GloboEsporte, the last two are against money changers suspected of participating in the case. “In the first phase of the operation, which started on 03/03/2021, documents and electronic equipment were seized that allowed the investigation to be deepened and the amount of R$ 13,129,217.00 in cash was seized”, says the official statement from the Federal Police.
In addition to the amount seized in the country, the Federal Police is still calculating the amount that was sent abroad, in an illegal activity that is characterized as foreign currency evasion.
Diego Costa is working at Atlético-MG
Diego Costa returned to acting in Brazilian football in August this year when he signed with Atlético-MG. He made his debut against Bragantino, in the Brazilian Championship, scoring the team’s equalizer. He subsequently played four matches and scored another year.
In a match at the Copa Libertadores, he felt a muscle injury and hindred the Galo’s in the return match of the competition. Currently, the player is still recovering in the medical department. The club has published an official notice on the matter:
“The facts reported do not concern the Club; they were not public knowledge, nor the institution (because they are investigations); and are prior to the athlete’s arrival at Atlético. , if it is in the athlete’s interest, all the support he may need”, is stated in the Rooster’s communiqué.
Official Note from the Federal Police of Sergipe
“The Federal Police initiates the second phase of the DISTRACTION operation, with the objective of obtaining evidence for investigation that investigates the alleged practice of gambling, money laundering, currency evasion and criminal organization involving the ESPORTENET gambling site, its owners , financial operators and financier.
In the first phase of the operation, which started on 03/03/2021, documents and electronic equipment were seized that allowed the investigation to be deepened and the amount of R$ 13,129,217.00 in cash was seized. Based on the evidence collected, it was possible to identify other betting platforms used by the group and individual companies and legal entities used for money laundering and currency evasion.
In addition, the participation of money changers that help the criminal organization in the process of evasion of currency was verified, as well as the participation of a football player who, supposedly, is the financier of the criminal scheme.
At this stage, the investigation is focused on the currency evasion process, focusing on the money changers and the betting site’s financier.
07 search and seizure warrants are being fulfilled: 02 in Itabaiana/SE, 01 in Lagarto/SE, 02 in Simão Dias/SE, 01 in Salvador/BA and 01 in São Paulo/SP. The warrants were issued by the Court of the 6th Federal Court of Itabaiana/SE.
Warrants for the seizure of property belonging to those involved in the criminal scheme are also being complied with.”
