A porn actress who claimed the millions that flowed through her bank account came from adult content sales has been arrested for laundering money for a drug cartel.
Francielly Paiva, also known as Cielly Paiva, arrived in Goiania in the state of Goias, Brazil, on 19th September after being arrested in Portugal and held for six months as a fugitive.
Police said she used bank accounts in her name and in the names of her two young daughters, aged six and 17, to transfer illicit funds abroad.
Francielly de Paiva poses in undated photo. She was extradited from Portugal and arrived at Brazil, on Sept.19,2025. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (Newsflash/NX)
Investigators accused her of being one of the main operators for the Amigos do Estado (ADE) gang, with accounts under her control moving more than BRL 30 million (GBP 4.1 million) in a short period.
Authorities said at the height of her activities more than BRL 20 million (GBP 2.7 million) passed through her account in just one year.
The money was allegedly used to pay for drug shipments, with funds channelled through shell companies to disguise their origin.
Francielly de Paiva poses in undated photo. She was extradited from Portugal and arrived at Brazil, on Sept.19,2025. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (Newsflash/NX)
Paiva had denied the accusations, insisting she earned her wealth through adult content sales.
After escaping to Europe, she lived a life of luxury posing as a high-end real estate agent.
Police said the evidence showed otherwise, pointing to extensive banking records that documented her transactions.
Francielly de Paiva poses in undated photo. She was extradited from Portugal and arrived at Brazil, on Sept.19,2025. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (Newsflash/NX)
Her arrest came after international cooperation between Brazilian authorities, the Federal Police, and Interpol.
After landing in Brazil, she was taken to a prison complex in Aparecida de Goiania.
The case was part of Operation Portokali, launched in 2017, which tracked financial movements linked to drug trafficking networks.
(Mike Leidig / newsX)