‘Brazil's largest gold seizure ever' made in glam influencer's car as cops find £8.2m of bars ‘hidden in dashboard'
Over 100 solid gold bars were seized from inside the motor's dashboard during a raid at a red light.
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Influencer Suzy Alencar was travelling with her husband Bruno Mendes de Jesus when her car was stopped by cops.
Officers initially found a small quantity of gold during their search.
But as they looked more, they uncovered more stash hidden in the dashboard and other compartments.
They seized 103kg worth of gold bars, with a price tag of almost £8.32million, according to the current Central Bank of Brazil rate.
The Federal Highway Police (PRF) have described the bust as the 'largest gold seizure in Brazil's history'.
PRF officer Rodrigo Magno told local media: 'We carried out the stop and, upon inspecting the inside of the vehicle, noticed signs that some parts had been tampered with.
'This prompted us to conduct a more thorough search.'
Bruno, 30, was arrested at the scene but 'refused to make a statement'.
Mum Suzy was arrested too, but was released shortly.
It is understood she was not charged at the time of her arrest.
Police are now investigating the gold's origin and links to mafia or criminal gangs.
Suzy has tens of thousands of followers on social media, where she shares videos about motherhood, fashion, and everyday moments.
Bruno's lawyer, Smiller Rodrigues de Carvalho, said his client is a 'first-time offender with a clean record'.
He described him as the 'sole provider for his family, which is in a vulnerable social situation'.
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He added: 'He is a worker who, like thousands of Brazilians, is involved in the mining sector.
"Despite operating in areas with regulatory challenges, it remains for many their main source of income and the only means of survival.
'What the law prohibits is the exploitation of mineral resources without legal authorisation and without complying with environmental and tax obligations.
"It is the lack of proper documentation that turns the activity into an administrative or criminal offence not the mining itself, which is a long-standing and deeply rooted reality in many parts of Brazil.'
The lawyer stressed that Bruno has 'no involvement with criminal organisations or activities that threaten public order'.
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