Civil Police operation targets R$500,000 drug trafficking scheme in RJ

The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro launched, on the morning of this Tuesday (30), an operation against the financial arm of the criminal faction ADA (Amigos dos Amigos), which operates in the community of Vila Vintém, in the West Zone of the capital. The action complies with arrest and search and seizure warrants in the neighborhoods of Bangu and Realengo.

According to investigations, the money laundering scheme linked to drug trafficking generated around R$500,000 per week. The investigation shows that the organization used transfers via Pix, payments via card machines and third-party bank accounts to hide the origin of the funds.

According to the Civil Police, the money collected from the sale of drugs was transferred to people's accounts used as oranges. Afterwards, cards linked to these accounts were handed over to other members of the faction, responsible for withdrawing the amounts in cash.

After the looting, the money returned to the criminal group with no apparent link to its origin, allowing the resources to be reinserted into the drug trafficking financial structure.

The investigations identified 14 people identified as members of the scheme. Each of them moved, on average, around R$5,000 per day, according to the police.

The court ordered the blocking of bank accounts used by the group, in an attempt to interrupt the financial flow of the criminal organization. In addition to dismantling the scheme, the operation seeks to gather new elements to advance investigations into the faction's actions in Vila Vintém and other areas of the West Zone of Rio.

The action is coordinated by agents from the 34th DP (Bangu), with support from Core (Special Resources Coordination), DGPC (General Police Department of the Capital) and DGPE (General Department of Specialized Police).

Source: CNN