Investigation into the death of uncle and nephew points to the involvement of security guards in drug trafficking in Salvador

The candidate has been a member of the Workers' Cause Party (PCO) for four years. He was a candidate for vice-mayor of Salvador in the 2020 elections, and this is the first time he has run for the position of governor of Bahia.

For the Public Security Secretariat, there is a pattern of action by the security guards and the group that tortured and killed the uncle and nephew, as a similar attack occurred with a 15-year-old teenager in October last year. The young woman suffered physical violence after committing theft inside the same supermarket.

The secretary also highlighted that, even if the crime was committed by people linked to an outsourced company, Atakarejo had to guide them on how to work and prevent abuse. "Any company has the obligation to know who it is hiring and to provide this service. Note that this is the second occurrence, which is only being investigated now because we did not have information about the incident that occurred last year. The victim did not report it, she was scared. But this is the second time."

For secretary Ricardo César, the supermarket was, at the very least, lenient with crime. "We don't have information that anyone from the supermarket participated, gave orders, agreed to the deaths, we cannot confirm that. But I have no doubt that there is civil liability. I speak as a citizen, not as a secretary, but as a person who has a degree in Law. It is very likely that they [the Atakarejo] will be held civilly liable. If I were in the family's place, I would file a compensation claim."

Bahia's public security secretary, Ricardo César Mandarino, stated that at no time were the Civil or Military police called to respond to the theft of meat. Only one administrative case was opened by the company. "But they don't have police power to punish anyone, much less order people killed. They had the obligation to call the police."

According to Andréa Ribeiro, uncle and nephew were taken to a security room inside the supermarket. They were questioned about the theft and then the security guards called the drug dealers. "After that, they were taken to the Northeast of Amaralina, where they would have been tortured, executed and then the bodies were taken to the Polemic location, in the trunk of a vehicle." Furthermore, she confirmed that the security guards would have charged R$700 to release Bruno and Yan.

Still according to delegate Andréa Ribeiro, the security guards deny having contacted drug traffickers, however, this has already been proven. "We want to understand the participation of the commercial establishment itself and these security guards, in choosing to take action against those involved in criminal activities instead of the state force, prepared to resolve this conflict."

The head delegate of the Homicide and Personal Protection Police Station, Andréa Ribeiro, said that the arrests that took place this Monday are the result of a first phase of investigations. She highlighted that it is important to see the responsibility of everyone involved in the crime, including the Atakarejo supermarket.

Understand the case: On the night of April 26, two men were found dead in the town of Polmédia, in Salvador. According to the Civil Police, they were tortured and shot with firearms. At the time, police reported that the motivation for the crime was related to drug trafficking. A day later, on the 27th, they were identified as Bruno Barros and Yan Barros. On April 29, Yan's mother, Elaine Costa Silva, revealed that he was killed after being caught by security guards at the Atakarejo supermarket for stealing meat from the establishment. According to her, Yan's uncle, Bruno, who was also killed, sent audios to a friend telling her what had happened and asking for help to avoid being handed over to traffickers in the Northeast of Amaralina.

In a statement released this Monday, Atakarejo reported that it does not comment on judicial decisions and that it will continue to collaborate with the authorities so that the crime can be clarified as quickly as possible. He also said that he reiterates his solidarity with the families of the victims and stated that the company does not tolerate any type of violence.

Four other people were also arrested on suspicion of involvement in the case. According to the police, this quartet is suspected of drug trafficking. Search and seizure warrants were carried out at the supermarket and at houses in the complex of neighborhoods that form the Northeast of Amaralina and in other locations in the capital of Bahia. One of the prisoners was found in the municipality of Conceição do Jacuípe, which is in the Feira de Santana region. This Monday, the Public Security Secretariat presented more details about the operation and investigations, in a press conference.