Businessmen are arrested for diverting weapons from stores to supply criminal organizations in ES and RJ

Three people, including two businessmen, were arrested this Tuesday (20) on suspicion of participating in a scheme to divert weapons and ammunition from stores to supply criminal organizations in Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. During the operation, the Civil Police also seized 118 weapons and more than 4 thousand ammunition.

The search and seizure warrants were carried out in nine stores: five in Greater Vitória, one in Castelo, in the south of Espírito Santo, and three in Rio de Janeiro.

According to the investigation, the group used false documents to facilitate the irregular purchase of weapons. With fraud, people with criminal records were used to acquire ten or more weapons, including rifles, in addition to thousands of rounds of ammunition.

"False documents were created and presented to these stores, which claimed to be unaware of the nature of the fraud," said delegate Guilherme Eugênio Rodrigues.

Three prisoners

The arrests took place in Cariacica, in Greater Vitória. In Campo Grande, Luciano dos Santos Freitas, 60 years old, was arrested in the act for fraudulent misrepresentation and illegal trade in weapons and ammunition.

In Vila Merlo, Israel Rufino dos Santos, aged 49, identified as the owner of a store, and employee Arlenn Carvalho Muzzi, aged 43, were charged with the same crimes. The establishment also functioned as a tactical training center.

According to delegate Guilherme Eugênio Rodrigues, in one of the stores investigated, all imported ammunition purchased was sold without issuing an invoice.

The defenses of the arrested suspects were not located.

Investigated since 2024

The investigation began in December 2024, after the arrest of a businessman suspected of selling weapons illegally in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, in the south of Espírito Santo.

The seized material will be subjected to forensic examination to check whether the weapons were tampered with or used in crimes.

From this case, the Civil Police identified an interstate criminal organization that used different fraud schemes to sell weapons and ammunition irregularly.

According to the general delegate of the Civil Police of Espírito Santo, Jordano Bruno, the investigation also led to changes in the control mechanisms for the sale of weapons and ammunition.

Inspection

Among the measures are online tools made available by the Army and the Federal Police to verify the authenticity of documents presented in stores during the purchase of weapons.

Another federal government tool provides notifications via Gov.br for people who purchase ammunition, with the aim of increasing control over transactions.