Major Operation In Brazil Leads To Arrests Tied To Illegal Betting Network

Authorities in Mato Grosso do Sul moved in on a long running illegal betting network and arrested several members of a group accused of running jogo do bicho operations across multiple Brazilian states. The action pulled in the father and two brothers of state deputy Neno Razuk and uncovered a wide trail of cash, weapons and gaming equipment.

Good to Know

• Police executed 47 warrants across four states tied to the investigation.
• More than BR300,000 in cash and multiple gambling machines were seized.
• The arrested individuals include the father and brothers of deputy Neno Razuk, although he was not targeted in this phase.

The Public Prosecutors Office of Mato Grosso do Sul said the arrests took place in Dourados and were part of a wider push to disrupt a criminal structure that controlled illegal lottery style betting machines. Investigators said the group operated in both the capital and smaller municipalities throughout the state, establishing influence through intimidation and territorial disputes.

Police named the individuals detained as Roberto Razuk and Rafael and Jorge Razuk. According to prosecutors, they handled the network of machines that fueled revenue for jogo do bicho and helped the organisation expand beyond its original base. Officers seized cash valued at more than BR300,000 alongside firearms, ammunition and illegal gaming terminals.

The inquiry has stretched into Goiás, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul, with authorities coordinating warrants and surveillance to track the full scale of the organisation. Investigators said they have now identified around 20 additional members, including figures suspected of taking on leadership roles in the expansion of the network.

Prosecutors noted that armed robberies tied to territorial disputes played a major role in the group’s strategy to intimidate other operators. Brazil’s Special Action Group for Combating Organized Crime documented cases where violence was used to secure areas and maintain control of revenue streams tied to the illegal betting market.

The MPMS highlighted the broader risks in its latest report, stating that “illegal gambling naturally fosters crimes such as corruption, extortion, money laundering and homicide.” Officials say the group demonstrated all of those patterns through its expansion across the state.

Deputy Neno Razuk was not a target in this action, though he has faced previous accusations from the MPMS that he directed the criminal organisation. The new arrests now raise questions about how far the investigation may reach as authorities continue to map connections inside the network.