The civilian police, with the support of the military police, succeeded in identifying and arresting another suspect involved in the bank robberies that took place in 2021 and 2022 in the Itajaí region, on the northern coast of Santa Catarina, this Friday (2).

On Thursday (1st), other participants were already arrested in Operation X, in addition to weapons, masks and money.

The suspect was found with a gun and a portion of marijuana – Photo: Civil Police / Reproduction / ND

During the operation, materials were collected that made it possible to identify the suspect, a 40-year-old man who had previously been involved in robbery crimes.

He may have been part of the group that robbed the Sicredi bank in the San Vicente area of ​​Itajai in October 2021.

The suspect was arrested on Friday afternoon, and a gun and about 230 grams of marijuana were found in his home.

As a result, he was prosecuted for illegal possession of firearms and drug trafficking.

Operation

The gang, investigated for committing at least three bank robberies in Itajai, was the target of a civilian police operation this Thursday. Six people were arrested, including a person appointed as the head of the organization.

Guns and masks to be used in gang robberies – Photo: Civil Police/Disclosure/ND

Weapons, including rifles, and masks used in the robberies, in addition to cash, were also seized by the police. Orders were executed in Itajai, Balneario Camboriu, Camboriu, Tijucas and San José.

crimes

The operation investigated three bank branch robberies in Itajai between July 2021 and February 2022, as well as an attempted robbery of a Brusca branch in July 2022.

The robberies took place at offices in Praia Brava, San Vicente and Itaipava.

According to chief Eduardo Ferras, the same mode of action in the three robberies caught the attention of the police: three men with pistols and long weapons attacked branches at the beginning of the working day, breaking glass with sledgehammers.

In addition to money, the robbers took firearms and body armor. In the three robberies committed, according to police, the robbers took about half a million reais.

seized items

Police issued six arrest warrants this Thursday, and a seventh person was arrested red-handed for illegal possession of a firearm. Another prisoner was also prosecuted for resisting and another for using a forged document.

A rifle, a .380 revolver and two pistols were seized, as well as five imitation firearms and a mask used in the robbery. More than 5,000 reais were also seized, in addition to electronic devices, vehicles, bills and forged documents.

Anti-bank robbery operation in Itajai confiscated weapons, mask and arrested 6 people – Photo: Civil Police/Disclosure/ND

In the first phase of the operation, in July 2022, three preventive arrest warrants and eight search warrants were issued, with the seizure of two 5.56 caliber rifles, two pistols, a CTT .40 carbine, a fire protection kit, ballistic vests and tactical equipment. .

The prisoners were charged with crimes of qualified theft and criminal association, directed to the penitentiary system.

The operation was supported by more than 80 police officers from the police stations in Brusca, San José, Navegantes, Barra Velha, Pizarras and Peña, the DPCami (Delegation for the Protection of Children, Adolescents, Women and the Elderly) Itajai, in addition to the Itajai military police battalion groups , Balneario Camboriu and Camboriu.