Brazilian drug lord imprisoned in Brasilia after arrest in Bolivia
By Lisandra Paraguassu
BRASILIA (Reuters) -The leader of Brazilian organized crime syndicate PCC has been jailed in a maximum-security prison in Brasilia after his arrest in Bolivia over the weekend, officials in Brazil said on Monday.
Drug-trafficker Marcos Roberto de Almeida, known as Tuta, was expelled from Bolivia after negotiations between the two countries so that Brazil could enforce his 12-year prison sentence for conspiracy, racketeering and money laundering, Brazil's minister of Justice, Ricardo Lewandowski, said.
Almeida was arrested in Bolivia when he tried to renew his foreign registration using a false Brazilian document. He had been on the run for five years and Interpol had issued a notice for his arrest.
Almeida was identified through biometrics after investigators cross-referenced the Federal Police and Interpol databases. The PCC leader was then handed over to the Federal Police in the border town of Corumba, from where he was taken to Brasilia in a police aircraft.
Almeida is being held in the same federal penitentiary as another PCC leader, Marcos Camacho, known as Marcola, officials said, adding that there will be no contact between the two associates.
"The penitentiary (in Brasilia) is the safest," said Lewandowski, referring to the Penitenciaria Federal de Brasilia. "There is no danger of contact between them and other gang members. Such contact is impossible."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
8 hours ago
- New York Post
Cuomo's sister-in-law allegedly used influence to try to help posh Hamptons club
Cristina Cuomo allegedly used her family connections to try to help the posh Surf Lodge in tony Montauk keep its crucial liquor and music licenses, The Post has learned. Long Island's Surf Lodge — owned by Jayma Cardosa, a buddy of ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo's sister-in-law — was fighting to keep its licenses in 2019 amid violations with the State Liquor Authority and local town officials. Cardoso hoped to get then-Gov. Cuomo — through Cristina and her husband Chris Cuomo, Andrew's brother — to 'soften up' then-SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley, who was appointed by Andrew, reveal emails obtained by The Post. Advertisement Cristina emailed Cordoso around that time saying she had spoken to her husband Chris about the Surf Lounge's licensing problems, and the venue owner seemed giddy. 7 Cristina Cuomo allegedly used her family connections to try to help the posh Surf Lodge in tony Montauk keep its liquor and music licenses. Getty Images 'Hopefully Chris Cuomo can speak with w his brother to soften up the chairman. Finger crossed!!! Happy New Year!,' Cordoso told Cristina in her 2019 New Year's response. Advertisement Cristina has held events at the Surf Lodge, and Andrew Cuomo — who resigned as governor over a slew of allegations in 2021 and is now making a comeback bid for New York City mayor — held a re-election fundraiser there in June 2018. Andrew has denied all of the allegations against him. Christina ended up writing a name-dropping letter to Bradley on Feb. 6, 2019, on behalf of Cardoso. 'Dear Vincent, I hope you are well. By way of my husband Chris Cuomo, I got your email from my brother-in-law, Gov. Andrew Cuomo,' Cristina said. She said she was writing on behalf of her 'friend and fellow Brazilian' Cardoso, who faced 'potential license revocation' for overcrowding conditions cited by a fire-marshal inspection during the prior year's Labor Day weekend. Advertisement The SLA had threatened to 'eliminate live music' at the venue as part of a proposed settlement with it so that it could keep the liquor license, the letter said. Cardoso was proposing to bolster security and increase access points into the venue to address the issues, Cristina told the SLA chairman. 7 Cristina has held events at the Surf Lodge, and Andrew Cuomo held a gubernatorial re-election fundraiser there in June 2018. Courtesy of The Surf Lodge 7 Cuomo told The Post through a spokesman that he did not intervene in the situation. Debra L Rothenberg/Shutterstock Advertisement The owner also was willing to reducing live entertainment from seven to three days a week and end it at 8 p.m. every evening as a compromise, the letter said. 'Jayma has brought Grammy Award winning live music and culture to the Hamptons community for 11 years, and has attributed to Montauk's burgeoning tourism while other establishments have come and gone,' Cristina told Bradley in her letter. Cristina, founder of the health+wellness platform Purist that operates in the city and Hamptons, added, 'I cherish our family vacation time out East and the cultural outlets that make our enjoyment of the Hamptons all the more special. 'Thank you for your thoughtful consideration in preserving the arts and culture at The Surf Lodge and the Hamptons as a whole.' 7 Cristina is married to Andrew's brother Chris. WireImage She then offered her phone number to Bradley in case he wanted to discuss the matter further with a call. As it turned out, the SLA's license was renewed. In the settlement pact, the owner agreed to pay $55,000 in civil penalties and limit music to three nights a week, stopping at 8 p.m. Upstate Republican Borrello, who is a restaurateur, said Cristina's letter doesn't pass the ethics smell test. Advertisement 'This letter is trading on the Cuomo name. It's obvious,' said Borrello, who owns five eateries and knows what it's like to face the SLA. 'Andrew Cuomo fancies himself as the ethics czar when he was governor. This type of influence-peddling is certainly hypocritical for the Cuomo family,' he said. 7 Former Gov. Cuomo is now running for New York City mayor. 7 Cristina said she had spoken to her husband about the venue's issues. DMI Advertisement 7 Andrew Cuomo 'certainly took no action' in the licensing issue, his rep said Sunday. AP But Cristina defended her role in trying to help the Surf Lodge owner keep her popular establishment. 'I wrote this as a member of the Hamptons community to help a friend,'' Cristina told The Post on Sunday. 'She was in jeopardy of losing her music license. Advertisement 'I didn't do anything wrong,' Cristina added. Cardoso did not respond to a Post request for comment. Andrew Cuomo is now the front-runner in the Democratic primary for mayor. Advertisement His campaign denied that the ex-governor had intervened in the Surf Lodge based on the letter from his sister-in-law or any other interactions. Through a campaign rep, Cuomo pleaded ignorance on the topic and claimed it's much ado about nothing. 'We knew nothing about this situation and certainly took no action, but the fact this seven year old letter is getting shopped around weeks before Election Day shows just how desperate people are getting — this really is some bottom of the barrel stuff,' said Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Massachusetts high schooler detained by ICE speaks out following release
Marcelo Gomes da Silva, the 18-year-old Massachusetts high school student who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on his way to volleyball practice last week, said following his release that he wants to help those still detained in the facility where he was held for nearly a week. "I would have to watch people cry, people with kids," the teen said during a press briefing in Burlington, Massachusetts, on Thursday after a judge granted him bond. "No one deserves to be down there." Gomes da Silva, a Brazilian national who is a junior at Milford Public High School, was arrested on Saturday, according to a court filing from his attorney. He said he wasn't able to shower for six days and would sleep on a concrete floor while being held at a facility in Burlington. The teen said he would share his limited food with the other men detained and often acted as their translator because he speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish. "At the end of the day, this place -- it's not a good spot to be," he said. Gomes da Silva said he would pray and talk to the other inmates about the Bible. "The only thing I could do is thank God every day," he said. MORE: Massachusetts high schooler detained by ICE on way to volleyball practice granted bond by judge Gomes da Silva's arrest sparked an outcry from Massachusetts officials and the Milford community where he has lived since he came to the United States in 2012 at the age of 6. He said he never saw the public support while he was detained and is grateful for it. "We don't have TVs in there," he said. "We don't get to see the daylight." Gomes da Silva, who was driving his father's car at the time of his arrest, was pulled over and detained even though the father was the target of the operation. The father, Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira, was sought because he "has a habit of reckless driving" at speeds over 100 mph, according to the Department of Homeland Security. He has not been detained. "I heard a lot of people talk bad about my dad, but if you want to talk bad about my dad, then you have to talk bad about me, because he raised me," Gomes da Silva said. "He doesn't deserve any hate, because I was raised from him." Gomes da Silva said his dad would cry on their calls and "has never done anything wrong." "I don't want anyone to touch my dad," he said. "My dad's everything to me," he added. Gomes da Silva was granted $2,000 bond on Thursday after an immigration judge found he is not a danger to the community. Following his release, he said he went to McDonald's and had French fries, chicken nuggets and a Coke. He said he was looking forward to hugging his parents, sister, brother and dog, a mini-poodle. He was greeted by his siblings, parents and classmates once he returned home Thursday evening. Gomes da Silva said he's "optimistic" about his future and wants to help the other men detained. "My dad always taught me to be humble and to put other people first," he said. "I want to do whatever I can to get them as much help as possible." MORE: Family members of Massachusetts teen detained by ICE plead for his release Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton said he and fellow Rep. Jake Auchincloss planned to inspect the Burlington facility where the teen was held. "This administration is not keeping us safe by keeping 18-year-old honor students in prison," Moulton said at the press briefing. "What we see here today -- it's not American. It doesn't represent our values." Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, who had called for the teen's release following his arrest, said in a statement that she is "relieved that Marcelo will be returning home to his parents, siblings, classmates and the Milford community." "Marcelo never should have been arrested or detained, and it certainly did not make us safer," she said. "It's not okay that students across the state are fearful of going to school or sports practice, and that parents have to question whether their children will come home at the end of the day. In Massachusetts, we are going to keep speaking out for what's right and supporting one another in our communities." Gomes da Silva entered the U.S. in 2012 and was on a student visa that has since lapsed, according to his attorney. He has no criminal history and is "eligible for and intends to apply for asylum," his attorney stated in a habeas corpus petition filed Sunday seeking his release. A federal judge issued an emergency order Sunday afternoon directing the government not to remove Gomes da Silva from the U.S. or to transfer him out of the judicial district of Massachusetts for at least 72 hours. On Monday, a federal judge ordered that the government not transfer the teen out of Massachusetts without first providing the court at least 48 hours' advance notice of and reasons for the move. The government was given 14 days to respond. ICE officials defended the arrest during a briefing on Monday. "When we go out into the community and we find others who are unlawfully here, we are going to arrest them," ICE acting Field Director Patricia Hyde said at a press briefing on Monday. "We've been completely transparent with that. He's 18 years old. He's unlawfully in this country."
2 days ago
Massachusetts high schooler detained by ICE on way to volleyball practice speaks out following release
Marcelo Gomes da Silva, the 18-year-old Massachusetts high school student who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on his way to volleyball practice last week, said following his release that he wants to help those still detained in the facility where he was held for nearly a week. "I would have to watch people cry, people with kids," the teen said during a press briefing in Burlington, Massachusetts, on Thursday after a judge granted him bond. "No one deserves to be down there." Gomes da Silva, a Brazilian national who is a junior at Milford Public High School, was arrested on Saturday, according to a court filing from his attorney. He said he wasn't able to shower for six days and would sleep on a concrete floor while being held at a facility in Burlington. The teen said he would share his limited food with the other men detained and often acted as their translator because he speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish. "At the end of the day, this place -- it's not a good spot to be," he said. Gomes da Silva said he would pray and talk to the other inmates about the Bible. "The only thing I could do is thank God every day," he said. Gomes da Silva's arrest sparked an outcry from Massachusetts officials and the Milford community where he has lived since he came to the United States in 2012 at the age of 6. He said he never saw the public support while he was detained and is grateful for it. "We don't have TVs in there," he said. "We don't get to see the daylight." Gomes da Silva, who was driving his father's car at the time of his arrest, was pulled over and detained even though the father was the target of the operation. The father, Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira, was sought because he "has a habit of reckless driving" at speeds over 100 mph, according to the Department of Homeland Security. He has not been detained. "I heard a lot of people talk bad about my dad, but if you want to talk bad about my dad, then you have to talk bad about me, because he raised me," Gomes da Silva said. "He doesn't deserve any hate, because I was raised from him." Gomes da Silva said his dad would cry on their calls and "has never done anything wrong." "I don't want anyone to touch my dad," he said. "My dad's everything to me," he added. Gomes da Silva was granted $2,000 bond on Thursday after an immigration judge found he is not a danger to the community. Following his release, he said he went to McDonald's and had French fries, chicken nuggets and a Coke. He said he was looking forward to hugging his parents, sister, brother and dog, a mini-poodle. He was greeted by his siblings, parents and classmates once he returned home Thursday evening. Gomes da Silva said he's "optimistic" about his future and wants to help the other men detained. "My dad always taught me to be humble and to put other people first," he said. "I want to do whatever I can to get them as much help as possible." Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton said he and fellow Rep. Jake Auchincloss planned to inspect the Burlington facility where the teen was held. "This administration is not keeping us safe by keeping 18-year-old honor students in prison," Moulton said at the press briefing. "What we see here today -- it's not American. It doesn't represent our values." Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, who had called for the teen's release following his arrest, said in a statement that she is "relieved that Marcelo will be returning home to his parents, siblings, classmates and the Milford community." "Marcelo never should have been arrested or detained, and it certainly did not make us safer," she said. "It's not okay that students across the state are fearful of going to school or sports practice, and that parents have to question whether their children will come home at the end of the day. In Massachusetts, we are going to keep speaking out for what's right and supporting one another in our communities." Gomes da Silva entered the U.S. in 2012 and was on a student visa that has since lapsed, according to his attorney. He has no criminal history and is "eligible for and intends to apply for asylum," his attorney stated in a habeas corpus petition filed Sunday seeking his release. A federal judge issued an emergency order Sunday afternoon directing the government not to remove Gomes da Silva from the U.S. or to transfer him out of the judicial district of Massachusetts for at least 72 hours. On Monday, a federal judge ordered that the government not transfer the teen out of Massachusetts without first providing the court at least 48 hours' advance notice of and reasons for the move. The government was given 14 days to respond. ICE officials defended the arrest during a briefing on Monday. "When we go out into the community and we find others who are unlawfully here, we are going to arrest them," ICE acting Field Director Patricia Hyde said at a press briefing on Monday. "We've been completely transparent with that. He's 18 years old. He's unlawfully in this country."
