Operation arrests suspects of gang that forced drivers to deliver cargo on SP highway

The operation was named Serra do Cafezal, a region that covers part of the Ribeira Valley, but was also carried out in other parts of the country.

The action took place on Friday morning (6), in the Northeast, Southeast and South regions, with warrants issued against 14 targets investigated for participation in the criminal scheme. G1 was not informed how many of these targets were from Vale do Ribeira.

According to authorities, in Serra do Cafezal, criminals forced drivers to stop near a community on the banks of the highway. There, the victims were forced to hand over their charges to the gang.

Five suspects were arrested while serving arrest warrants. A sixth person was arrested in the act after police found a shotgun, ammunition and radio communicators while executing a search warrant.

According to the PRF, more than 150 police officers from eight states participated in the operation, which also included a helicopter, sniffer dogs, drones and motorcyclists.

The PRF reported that the operation is part of joint public security efforts in the Régis Bittencourt corridor through the National Network to Combat Robbery and Cargo Theft (Redecarga).

Data from the São Paulo Public Security Secretariat (SSP-SP) indicate that records of robbery and cargo theft in Itapecerica da Serra, Cajati, Miracatu, Barra do Turvo and Juquitiba fell by 68.2%.