A joint operation between civilian police and military police led to the arrest of two suspects on Wednesday (6) in Indaial, in Vale do Itajaí. During the action, a notebook was discovered with notes indicating the payment of “tithes” to a criminal organization responsible for “sanctioning” the sale of drugs in certain areas of the city.

Police operation uncovers ‘tithe’ payments for drug dealing at Indayal points – Photo: Civil Police/ND Reproduction

The operation resulted in the execution of five search and seizure warrants at homes and the arrest of two men for drug dealing.

According to civilian police, investigations revealed that the suspects were involved in drug trafficking in a forested area and after collecting more information, a location was identified where drugs sold by the group could be stored.

The operation revealed the payment of “tithes” to a criminal organization

During an anti-drug operation in Indiala on Wednesday (6), police discovered marijuana and crack cocaine at a house that was subject to a search and seizure warrant.

In addition to the drugs, scales, fractional money, a card machine and a notepad containing what appeared to be drug trafficking records were seized.

In an interview with Tribuna do Povo, delegate Felipe Martins explained the details of the operation carried out in Indaial.

According to the delegate, the action was a continuation of an operation against drug trafficking in the city carried out about a week ago, during which seven people were detained red-handed.

“There are two people who are already under surveillance, both by the civilian police and the military police. This joint operation was launched by the two police forces and we were able to successfully arrest them. One of the individuals was also arrested last week, had a custody hearing, was released and then arrested for the third time in less than a year for drug trafficking,” he said.

Martins also stressed that the corporation is working tirelessly to combat this type of crime in the region. “And also because we know that drug trafficking is a crime that gives rise to other serious crimes,” he said.

During the operation, a notebook was seized with notes in which the amounts corresponding to the payment of “tithe” were indicated.

“This tithe is not from the church, according to our investigations it is related to the payment of a monthly fee to a criminal organization that collects sums from its members so that the criminal group subsequently buys more drugs, hires those who need to be hired so that the crime can stop and perpetuate,” – the delegate explained.

The notebook also contained some names and even an abbreviation referring to the main criminal organization of Santa Catarina.

However, according to Martins, criminals pay x amount to be able to sell in certain parts of the city, and because of this, there are records of fights between rival organizations in dispute over these locations.