Execution of a CCP Informant: Who Has Already Been Arrested and What Remains to Be Discovered?

Three people have already been arrested during the investigation, but two of them were released less than 24 hours later; police offer R$50,000 for information on the suspect’s whereabouts

BRASÍLIA – Three suspects involved in the execution of Antonio Vinicius Lopes Gritzbachinformant First Capital Command (PCC) they were arrested on Friday the 6th by the Civil Police. Less than 24 hours later, however, at least two of them were released. As demonstrated by Estadaothe decision was made after a custody hearing held by Court of Justice of the State of São Paulo (TJ-SP)Which reported an alleged irregularity in the arrest.

Gritzbach was shot ten times ago in the arrivals area of ​​Guarulhos airport, in the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo. He was at the center of a major CCP money laundering investigation.

The businessman had reached a plea deal in April and was wanted by the faction’s criminals, who had even offered him a reward of 3 million reais for the execution of the informer. After the execution took place in broad daylight at the country’s largest airport, a task force was set up to investigate the case. During Gritzbach’s execution, app driver Celso Araújo Sampaio de Novais was hit by a stray bullet and did not resist.

Who has already been arrested?

In total, three people suspected of involvement in the case have been arrested since Friday: Mateus Soares Brito, Marcos Henrique Soares and Allan Pereira Soares. The latter two, however, were released around 3pm this Saturday after undergoing a custody hearing.

Marcos Henrique Soaresarrested on Friday, he is accused of helping to transport and supply equipment to the gang. According to the police report, rifle ammunition was found on the motorcycle he was traveling on.

Allan Pereira SoaresAlso arrested on Friday, he is Marcos’ uncle. He was arrested after Rota officers (Rondas Ostensivas Tobias Aguiar) reported finding ammunition in his car.

Al EstadaoLawyer Guilherme Vaz, who represents Marcos and Allan, said that “during the hearing it was shown that there was something strange in the Prime Minister’s story.”

One of the points he questioned was that, after being approached at home, Allan called Marcos. “How does someone meet the police with ammunition on their motorbike?” he asked. The defense claims that the customers are not the owners of the ammunition and that they have no connection to the Gritzbach case.

Mateus Soares Britonephew of Allan and brother of Marcos, was arrested this Saturday and, during his testimony, confessed to having helped in the escape of Kauê Amaral Coelho, appointed scout who indicated to the executioners who Gritzbach was. Brito reportedly told investigators he was a member of the faction and was tasked with helping his partner.

He would also purchase cell phones to use in the plan. Investigations indicate that Brito’s cell phone was in the Guarulhos airport area on the day of Gritzbach’s execution, one hour before the crime. He is the only one of the three who remains in custody. The report attempted to contact Brito’s defense, but received no response as of the last update of this report.

Why were two of the suspects released?

At the end of the custody hearing, obtained by EstadaoJudge Juliana Pirelli da Guia stressed that, according to information in the police report, Rota police officers went to the house where Marcos lives to investigate an anonymous complaint that he had participated in the murder of the informant of the CCP.

Once they arrived on site, they allegedly found several ammunition and firearms inside a Fiesta vehicle, parked in front of the house. “Police are said to have requested the presence of a resident when Allan appeared in the garage, identifying himself as a resident and as Marcos’ uncle, who was not at home,” the document reads.

According to police, the vehicle was unlocked, with the doors open. They then carried out searches inside, finding weapons and ammunition under the front seat. At the request of the police, Allan called Marcos to come home. When the nephew arrived, riding a motorcycle, more firearm ammunition was found in the trunk of the vehicle, according to the bulletin.

Allan and Marcos denied any relation to the objects. “Regarding the ammunition and weapons found in the vehicle, I note that nothing links the vehicle to any of the custodians, neither Allan nor Marcos, nothing indicates that it was their property. And, even if it were their property, it could be subject to searches only with the prior authorization of the owner or possessor, or if there has been a judicial search and seizure warrant”, specifies the judge.

What did the police say about the decision?

Delegate Osvaldo Nico Gonçalves, executive secretary of the Secretariat of Public Security, commented on the decision this Saturday at the door of the DHPP, in the center of São Paulo. “We will not let our guard down, we will continue to work,” he said. He pointed out that in total seven mobile phones were seized. Police interlocutors say the expectation is to obtain decisive information from the devices.

According to him, the fact that the approaches of Marcos and Allan occurred on the basis of anonymous complaints is not a problem. “We have our sector that receives information and everything is checked. The police came to the scene with ammunition, so they don’t need an arrest warrant,” said Gonçalves, who heads the investigative task force. Gritzbach’s execution. The case happened about a month ago. “I don’t see any irregularities (approaching)“he added.

How many police officers have been fired so far?

Last month, four military police officers who provided a private escort to Gritzbach were removed from the force. According to the regulations of the Military Police of São Paulo, active officers are prohibited from carrying out this type of work. As Estadão demonstrated, only one of them was at the airport when the crime occurred. The other three did not go to the scene due to a technical failure in the car they were in.

Subsequently, four other agents of the Prime Minister were removed, suspected of having sporadically participated in Gritzbach’s escort six other civil police officers, who would have been mentioned in the entrepreneur’s statement.

As demonstrated by Estadao, Gritzbach accuses Civil Police officers from two departments and two police stations: they would be connected to the State Department for Criminal Investigations (DEIC), the Department of Homicide and Personal Protection (DHPP) and Police Districts 24 (Ermelino Matarazzo) and 30 (Tatuapé). The accusation concerns the crimes of passive corruption, criminal association and extortion (act of a public employee who claims an undue advantage).

Who is Gritzbach and why was he targeted?

Businessman Vinicius Gritzbach worked as a real estate agent when he got involved with CCP drug traffickers. In April, Gritzbach signed a plea deal and would be an important player in uncovering the faction’s plans in football.

The businessman had already previously been targeted by criminals suspected of having ordered the death of drug dealer Anselmo Bechelli Santa Fausta, known as Cara Preta, in 2021. Gritzbach was captured, but kept alive for the group’s financial interests, as the businessman had passwords to redeem millionaires in cryptocurrencies.

In 2023, with information about a possible indictment, Gritzbach was shot through the window of his apartment, but the assassin missed. The expectation was that his statement would reveal the criminal group’s plans also in the construction sector.

Who is investigating the case and what remains to be discovered?

Three days after the crime, São Paulo’s security secretary, Guilherme Derrite, created a task force to investigate the execution of the CCP informant. The group is led by the current number 2 of the Secretariat of State for Security, Osvaldo Nico Gonçalves.

Besides him there are representatives of the intelligence department of the civil police (Dipol); from the Homicide and Personal Protection Department, from the Intelligence sector of the Military Police; and the Scientific Police. The authorities of the Federal Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office also help.

Among other hypotheses, the police are investigating the CCP’s involvement in the execution of the informant. The alleged participation of Kauê Amaral Coelho in the crime strengthens the hypothesis, since there is evidence that he is one of the members of the faction. Images from the airport show Coelho pointing to the informant in the airport lobby. The suspect is at large. Considering him a key player in the explanation of the crime, the police offer a reward of R $ 50,000 for anyone with information on Coelho’s whereabouts.

Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.