A joint investigation by Brazilian and Italian police revealed a multi-million dollar international drug trafficking scheme linked to the 'Ndrangheta, one of the main Italian mafia organizations. According to the Federal Police, digital influencer Paula Simões and lawyer Patrick Cardoso commanded operations to send cocaine to Europe from Brazilian ports.
The two were arrested in an operation that is part of a series of investigations that began in 2019, when Nicola Assisi and her son, Patrick Assisi, members of the Mafia from Calabria, in southern Italy, were found hiding in Praia Grande, on the coast of São Paulo.
Paula is married to Patrick Assisi and, according to investigators, took over the representation of her husband's criminal business after his arrest. Lawyer Patrick Cardoso, who defended the mafiosi, acted as an intermediary between the prisoners and the members of the organization who remained free.
The scheme
Criminals hired logistics from Paranaguá to export large quantities of cocaine abroad, and also used money changers to carry out this financial movement.
Fantástico showed how gangs operated in the port to hide drugs inside containers, often in the service of the Italian mafia, which continued to operate even after the arrest of Nicola and Patrick Assisi.
"'The wife of one of these mafiosi exchanged many messages with a lawyer, who was the one who represented them when they were arrested, dealing with drug suppliers, payment of debts. And conversations there with a very strong indication of international drug trafficking", said Eduardo Verza, delegate of the Federal Police.
According to the Federal Police, Patrick Cardoso took advantage of his legal prerogatives and private contact with imprisoned clients to transmit messages from mobsters. Investigators identified photographs of tickets and of the mafia members themselves taken inside the Federal Police Superintendency in São Paulo.
In the notes, the mobsters gave guidance on the criminal organization's business, including information about people who owed the group money.
In one of the letters, Patrick Assisi instructed his wife, Paula, to send an accomplice known as 'BXX' to recover all the money and goods that could be sold.
The testimony of a member of the 'Ndrangheta itself, in Italy, helped to confirm that there was a new leadership of the criminal organization in Brazil.
Patrick Cardoso and Paula Simões, arrested in an operation on an international drug scheme — Photo: Reproduction/TV Globo
Investigation
In 2020, Brazil and Italy, with the support of Interpol, began to jointly investigate the criminal operations of this Italian mafia — both here in Brazil and in several European countries — and discovered that the criminal group made an "exception" for the influencer Paula Simões to be their representative here.
"According to the mafia's own rules, normally, women don't have much of a role. But in this case, yes," revealed delegate Verza, responsible for the case.
On Patrick Cardoso's cell phone, photos were found of him with drugs and large amounts of money. According to the police, the lawyer also took advantage of his profession to develop criminal activities with members of the Red Command.
When Paula and lawyer Patrick took over the illicit business, the group had more than two tons of cocaine in stock. In conversations intercepted by the investigation, carried out through an application used exclusively by criminals, Paula's husband's associates discussed arrangements related to drug trafficking.
According to the police, in a conversation in Italian, Paula agreed with mobsters to send 400 kilos of cocaine to Europe.
Dealer: "What's the price of your stuff?"
Paula: "4,800, friend."
Drug dealer: "In Paranaguá, right?"
Paula: "I'm going to take photos this week, ok?"
Dealer: "It's important that it's top."
Paula: "However, to send it to Paranaguá, with shipping, it costs 5150, ok?"
For the police, the messages make it clear that Paula and Eduardo were the Assisi's representatives outside of jail.
"BXX" is Franklin Rodrigues de Oliveira, who was part of the gang since the time when Nicola and Patrick Assisi were still at large. He was responsible for drug shipments and the group's payments.
Franklin also acted as a liaison between members of the Italian 'Ndrangheta mafia and Brazilian criminal factions.
He was a partner of Willian Barile, arrested in 2025 and known as a "handyman" of the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC). During the police operation, Franklin tried to escape, but ended up trapped in a garage.
""We have seen that the 'Ndrangheta had the capacity to develop close and strong relationships with South American organizations, such as the Colombian cartels, as well as the PCC and the Red Command in Brazil," said Andrea Caputo, colonel of the Italian police.
What the defenses say
Franklin Rodrigues de Oliveira's lawyers stated that they will not comment on the accusations against their client and that they will demonstrate his innocence to the courts.
Patrick Cardoso's defense stated that the lawyer has always acted within the limits of law throughout his 25-year career and that he has already submitted a request to revoke preventive detention.
Paula Simões' lawyer stated that she denies all the accusations and that no drugs were seized from her. According to the defense, the suspicion that criminal activities continued after the arrest of the Assisi are inferences from the police authority, not proven facts.
According to the police, the group led by the mafiosos led an international drug trafficking scheme that moved incalculable amounts of money.
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