Mato Grosso do Sul police arrest lottery businessman in gambling inquiry
Mato Grosso do Sul Civil Police arrested lottery businessman Cícero Fabiano Melo Silva in João Pessoa on 18 August and carried out five searches in João Pessoa and Campina Grande. Investigators are examining suspected illegal bingo and gambling operations, criminal association and money laundering; Silva’s defence said his company Paraíba Premiado was not involved and that it had not seen the basis for the arrest warrant. A court in Paraíba upheld his pre-trial detention at a custody hearing.
The inquiry and upheld detention put a lottery-sector business under scrutiny for suspected illegal gambling and money laundering.