Influencer arrested on suspicion of links to the Italian mafia made a post about 'setting people on fire'

Digital influencer Paula Simões, preventively arrested on suspicion of involvement in an international cocaine trafficking scheme linked to the 'Ndrangheta, the Italian mafia, published a sentence on social media about having the courage to "set fire to" other people.

With 29.5 thousand followers on Instagram, Paula Simões da Cruz, also known as Paula Simões Assisi, is named by the Federal Police (PF) as a suspect of having taken on leadership roles in the criminal organization after the arrest of her husband, Patrick Assisi, and father-in-law, Nicola Assisi, in July 2019, in Praia Grande, on the coast of São Paulo.

On Instagram, Paula presents herself as a digital content creator and influencer. The profile brings together publications on a variety of topics, such as makeup, beauty care, music and dance videos.

"If people knew that I had the courage to set them on fire, they wouldn't risk so much...", wrote the influencer. There is no indication that the publication is related to the crimes investigated or that the sentence was directed at any specific person.

What does the investigation point to?

According to the Federal Court's decision, Paula is the wife of Patrick Assisi and daughter-in-law of Nicola Assisi, arrested in July 2019. The Federal Police suspect that, after their arrest, she took over the coordination of activities related to cocaine trafficking in Brazil.

According to investigators, Paula used the code name 'Chanel' on SkyECC, an encrypted messaging application. The investigation analyzed conversations held between January 2020 and February 2021.

The PF states that the influencer had negotiated with drug suppliers, coordinated shipments of cocaine destined abroad and participated in the criminal organization's financial transactions.

The court decision also points to evidence that Paula administered approximately 2.2 tons of cocaine that remained under the control of the group after the arrest of her family members. According to the PF, even after the seizure of this stock, it continued to acquire other shipments.

Connection with Santos lawyer

The investigation also links Paula to Patrick Raasch Cardoso, a lawyer from Santos, on the coast of São Paulo, who is being investigated on suspicion of participation in the same international cocaine trafficking scheme.

According to the Federal Police, the lawyer had acted as an intermediary in contacts with international traffickers linked to the 'Ndrangheta and, later, participated directly in the coordination of drug shipments.

Preventive detention and freezing of assets

The Federal Court ordered the preventive detention of Paula and others being investigated as part of Operation Eredità, which investigates the activities of a criminal organization linked to international drug trafficking.

The decision also determined property measures, including the seizure of properties and the blocking of movable assets, bank accounts and financial investments linked to those under investigation.

The suspicions presented by the Federal Police still depend on judicial analysis. Preventive detention is a precautionary measure and does not represent a conviction.