A member of Brazilian criminal group PCC opened 7 evangelical churches with drug money
The Public Ministry of Rio Grande do Norte (MP-RN) state accuses a First Command of the Capital (PCC) member of laundering R$23 million from drug trafficking to open evangelical churches and buy real estate, farms, and herds.
According to the MP-RN, Valdeci Alves dos Santos, aka “Colorido”; his brother, Geraldo dos Santos Filho; and Geraldo’s wife opened at least seven churches in the capital of Rio Grande do Norte and in São Paulo.
The Public Ministry launched Operation Plata on Tuesday (14) to investigate money laundering by the criminal group.
The police served seven arrest warrants and 43 search and seizure warrants in Rio Grande do Norte, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Santa Catarina, Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba, and Distrito Federal.
As a result, agents seized weapons, cell phones, and other electronic objects.
THE SCHEME
The investigations began in 2019.
According to the MP-RN, the scheme began more than two decades ago.
Colorido, the leader, is imprisoned in the Federal Penitentiary of Brasilia.
The Prosecutor’s Office considers Geraldo, Pastor Júnior, as Colorido’s right-hand man. He was arrested in 2019, in São Paulo, on charges of using a false document.
The brothers are accused of hiding and concealing the resources of drug trafficking through “laranjas” (stooge).
According to the MP-RN, the criminals bought the goods on behalf of the brothers, sons, brothers-in-law, and nephews of Geraldo and Colorido.
The Public Ministry ordered the seizure of the passport of one of Colorido’s sons.
In addition, eight people accused of participating in the scheme will be monitored through an electronic ankle bracelet.
The MP-RN investigates, in total, 24 people.
With information from Revista Oeste
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