Former state deputy Tiego Raimundo dos Santos Silva, known as Th Jóias, is among the mega-operation investigated by the Civil Police on the morning of Tuesday (16).
Teams were at addresses linked to the parliamentarian in the west of Rio. According to investigators’ investigations, he would be involved in negotiations related to the purchase and sale of primates.
A “Operation São Francisco”coordinated by the Environmental Protection Police Station (DPMA) with the support of the State Secretariat of Environment and Sustainability (Seas), was defined by the corporation as the largest ever held in Brazil in the fight against Wildlife Trafficking, armas e ammunition.
The action meets more than 40 arrest warrants and 270 search and seizure In the capital, Metropolitan Region, Baixada Fluminense, Serrana region, Lakes Region and also in São Paulo and Minas Gerais.
More than Thousand Civil Police They participate in the task force from the early hours of the day. Over one year of investigationswere identified 145 Suspects of integrating the criminal organizationwhich according to the Civil Police had been working for decades in wildlife trafficking and clandestine sale of weapons and ammunition.
To support the operation, a base was set up in the police city in the North Zone of Rio, to receive the seized animals. They will undergo veterinary care and evaluation of criminal experts before being sent to screening centers, aiming to reintroduce them in nature.
SPECIAL GROUP FOR PRIMATE HOSPITY
Investigations indicate that the group had specialized nuclei for different stages of the illegal scheme. Hunters removed wild animals, such as primates, from their natural habitats, including preservation areas such as Tijuca National Park. Medals transported the animals to urban centers where they were marketed. Another core falsified washers, public seals, chips e documents to mask the illicit origin of animals.
In addition to fauna trafficking, the gang also provided weaponry e ammunitionmaintaining relationships with criminal factions and ensuring sales in clandestine fairs carried out in areas controlled by drug trafficking.
A CNN tries to contact the defense of Th Jeias and those arrested in the operation.
