A leader of the largest crime organization in Brazil arrested in Bolivia, the authorities say the authorities say

Sao Paulo – The Brazilian and Bolivian police arrested one of the leaders of the largest criminal organization of the Brazilian criminal organization in East Bolivia after almost five years, the authorities announced on Saturday.

Marcos Roberto de Almeida had been an international refugee since 2020 after crime, including criminal organization, money laundering and drug trafficking, was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

In a statement by the Brazilian federal police, Almeida said on Friday in Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia in a joint operation with Bolivian police and Interpol.

It was not immediately clear whether Almeida had a legal representation.

According to the Brazilian authorities, Almeida presented a false identity document on a police station in Bolivia while dealing with immigration issues. The Bolivian authorities discovered counterfeits and contacted interpoles and the Brazilian police in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

“As soon as his true identity has been confirmed, he was arrested by Bolivia's special troops to combat organized crime,” said the Brazilian federal police in a statement.

Almeida is one of the leaders of the First Capital Command, which is known in the Portuguese initials PCC, which is the largest and most powerful organized crime group in Brazil. It was founded in 1993 by hardened criminals in Sao Paulos Taubstal prison to improve prison conditions. It quickly started to lead drug trafficking and blackmail operations on the outside.

In a press release, the federal police said that Almeida was one of the main coordinators of an international money laundering system associated with the criminal organization and was on the red list of interpol.

Brazilian authorities said that a hearing with Almeida in Bolivia will determine on Sunday whether it will be transferred to Brazil or is exposed to an incorrect document in the country. If it is shown, it could return to Brazil, depending on the agreements between the two countries within hours or days. If a formal delivery process is required, it can take longer, depending on the Bolivian legal proceedings.