MPF Launches National Gaeco Unit, Vows to Monitor Cryptocurrencies in Fight Against Criminal Organizations Threatening the State

The Brazilian Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) has established the National Gaeco, a specialized unit to combat organized crime, with a focus on tracking cryptocurrency transactions used by criminal networks. Announced during an international seminar, this initiative aims to enhance cross-border cooperation and modernize investigative methods to counter sophisticated criminal operations. Key figures, including Brazil's Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet Branco and Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski, emphasized the need for financial disruption of groups undermining democracy.

What is the National Gaeco and Why Was It Created?

The National Gaeco (Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime) is a newly formed MPF unit designed to investigate crimes with national or international repercussions, including money laundering, corruption, and terrorism. Its creation responds to the limitations of regional prosecutors in tackling borderless criminal networks that exploit cryptocurrencies and encrypted communication. The unit will facilitate joint investigations with foreign counterparts and streamline international cooperation.

How Will Cryptocurrencies Be Monitored?

Authorities highlighted cryptocurrencies as a critical tool for criminal organizations to obscure financial trails. The Gaeco National will employ strategic intelligence to trace crypto transactions, targeting groups that use digital assets to fund activities aimed at destabilizing the state. Prosecutor General Gonet stressed that "financial suffocation" is key to dismantling these networks.

Who Attended the Launch Event?

The seminar in Brasília gathered officials from Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Italy, and the EU. Vice Prosecutor General Hindenburgo Chateaubriand underscored the Gaeco's role in replacing outdated territorial approaches with a centralized, agile framework. Subprosecutor General José Adonis Callou de Araújo Sá added that the unit offers a more stable alternative to temporary task forces.

What Crimes Will the Gaeco National Target?

Its mandate spans:
- Corruption and institutional bribery
- Environmental crimes in indigenous territories
- Militias and attacks on democratic institutions
- Terrorism financing via crypto assets

What Are the Expected Outcomes?

The MPF aims to:
1. Disrupt criminal finances through international collaboration.
2. Modernize investigative tactics with specialized teams.
3. Institutionalize a transparent model for long-term efficacy.

FAQs

What distinguishes Gaeco National from previous task forces?

Unlike ad-hoc task forces, Gaeco National is a permanent structure with cross-border jurisdiction and dedicated resources to combat evolving criminal methodologies.

How does this initiative align with global trends?

It mirrors efforts by Italy and the EU to address transnational crime through unified legal frameworks and shared intelligence on crypto-related offenses.