Operation Match Point arrests 28 people in seven states

Launched this Wednesday (12) to dismantle a criminal organization accused of laundering money from drug trafficking, Operation Match Point arrested 28 people in seven states, the Federal Police (PF) announced this evening. Of the people sought, six are on the run. According to the PF, two fugitives are out of Brazil, probably in European countries. Of the people arrested, 27 were already being investigated by the PF and one was not being investigated, but was arrested red-handed in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The states with the highest number of prisoners are Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, with seven prisoners each. Then comes Santa Catarina (six prisoners), Minas Gerais and Bahia (three prisoners each) and Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte (one prisoner each). All 49 search and seizure warrants were carried out by 250 police officers in ten federal units. Bank accounts of 43 individuals have already been blocked. So far, the value of cash seizures is just over R$ 2.3 million. Properties Also according to the PF, 57 properties were kidnapped, in addition to “various vehicles and vessels”. It is estimated that the values ​​of these seized assets exceed R$ 150 million. Of the total number of seized properties, 17 are located in Santa Catarina, 26 in São Paulo, 11 in Bahia and three in Rio de Janeiro. The Federal Police are still seeking the registration of 19 properties after the start of the operation. “The criminal organization was divided into two large cells, with branches in several cities in the country, especially in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Norte”, detailed the PF, in a note. About 65 kilos of cocaine and 225 kilos of skunk were seized. The actions were supported by the Federal Highway Police and the Military Police of Santa Catarina. The Match Point operation had the cooperation of Interpol and Europol, since among the leaders of the criminal organization “there is an Icelandic citizen residing in Brazil, previously investigated by the Federal Police and the Icelandic police”, informed the PF. Search and seizure warrants were served in nine states: ten in Santa Catarina; 13 in São Paulo; 12 in Rio de Janeiro; six in Minas Gerais; three in Bahia; two in Rio Grande do Norte. In Paraíba, Pernambuco and Goiás, one warrant was served in each.

Agência Brasil