At a press conference this Monday morning (28), Deutsch (State Criminal Investigation Office) explained how Operation Wallet uncovered a drug scheme for millionaires in Santa Catarina. Using falsified suitcases, the criminals smuggled drugs into and out of Brazil.
A criminal organization repurposed suitcases to send drugs to different countries – Photo: Ana Scholler/NDClaudio Monteiro, head of the DEIC Narcotics Police Department, said the perpetrators were doing an “almost artisanal” job of stuffing drugs into suitcases.
“This work has made it difficult to identify drugs at airports. He even went through x-rays of these places,” explains Monteiro.
According to the delegate, members of the criminal group used investments in cryptocurrencies to launder money received as a result of crimes. They are used as “internet money”. These are digital currencies that you can use to make purchases or transactions online, just like we do with physical money.
The main places of supply were Australia, Thailand and Europe. The cargo, usually delivered by unemployed youth, is sent from Santa Catarina to other countries.
Monteiro also explained that one of the batches made by the same gang was recently intercepted. However, the delegate stated that the seizure took place outside of Santa Catarina, but the details of the seizure could not yet be disclosed.
Just this Monday (the 28th), Deitch seized cell phones, drugs, and bags used to transport drugs.
Agents are still on the streets and there is still no closed balance sheet on how much money has already been seized – Video: Reproduction/PCSC/ND
Items were sent with different seams, false bottoms and a lot of handwork.
The civilian police confiscated the bags – Video: Ana Scholler/ND
In 2019, the same organization was already arrested by Deutsch with a large amount of cocaine, synthetic drugs, suitcases prepared with about 5 kg of cocaine each, a press for the production of synthetic drugs.
To stop the gang, several court orders are executed. Among them, blocking of 16 cryptocurrency wallets (Wallet) in one of the largest brokerage companies in the world, 32 search warrants, 17 arrest warrants, blocking of 15 bank accounts, blocking of companies and arrest of vehicles.
Orders are executed in the cities of Florianopolis, San José, Biguaçu, Imbituba, Camboriu and Navegantes.
Life style
According to Monteiro, the gang is already known to the police.
“They led a more modest lifestyle, as they were arrested earlier. However, the lifestyle still included parties and cars,” he says.
Change in case of Santa Catarina woman arrested in Indonesia
According to the delegate, Operation Wallet could completely change the investigation of a young woman from Florianopolis arrested in Indonesia. According to the department, the criminal organization responsible for sending the woman was allegedly uncovered.
Manuela Vitória de Araujo Farias worked as a freelancer selling perfumes and lingerie. She lived in Para, where her father lives, and in Santa Catarina, where her mother lives.
Manuela Vitoria is in jail in Indonesia – Photo: R7/Reproduction/NDThe defense claims that Manoela was seduced by a gang upon arrival in Santa Catarina territory. After leaving Florianopolis, the girl was arrested on December 31 last year at the Bali airport with almost 3 kilograms of cocaine.
A surfer, the criminals would offer him sports lessons in Indonesia. In return, she was asked to carry the suitcase, that is, to use it as a “mule”.
According to the lawyer, she did not know what she was carrying in her suitcase. So when she was arrested, she was taken by surprise.
Deputy Monteiro, on the contrary, says that the so-called “mules” always know what they are carrying, but are tempted by promises of big money.
Murder
However, according to the delegate, it is possible that the police are charging criminals with attempted murder because they sent people with drugs to countries where the penalty for trafficking is death.
“It’s almost like sending a person to the guillotine. They knew they could be sentenced to death, and yet they sent them,” he says.
Source: Ndmais