The Polícia Judiciária (PJ) arrested a leader of the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), one of Brazil’s largest criminal organizations, on Saturday in Lisbon.
In a statement sent to newsrooms yesterday, the PJ announced that a 44-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman were arrested in the Lisbon area under international arrest warrants issued by Brazilian judicial authorities. The news outlet Notícias ao Minuto confirmed that the detainee is Ygor Daniel Zago, known as Hulk within the organization, one of Brazil’s top drug traffickers.
The criminal was sentenced to 29 years for drug trafficking in 2014 but was awaiting judicial decision while free.
In 2021, Brazilian authorities once again arrested the man and his wife in São Paulo during an anti-narcotics operation. The operation uncovered several luxury items, including a red Ferrari, a helicopter, and a yacht, among others.
According to Jornal de Notícias, the Brazilian arrived in Lisbon this May. Two months later, in July, his wife, Fernanda, joined him in Portugal.
The pair is suspected of engaging in criminal association, corruption, and money laundering related to the trade of fuel adulterated with methanol.
“In 2023, following the seizure of 30,000 liters of methanol, the subsequent investigation into the source of the seized chemical led to the discovery of a criminal organization involved in the trade of fuel adulterated with methanol, corruption of public officials, and concealment of assets and funds derived from these illicit activities,” detailed the PJ in a statement issued this Saturday.
Authorities indicated that the network “operated in an organized and structured manner, with a clear division of roles,” noting that “one of the now-detained individuals was in charge of the organization, responsible for making decisions on all activities, […] issuing orders to subordinates, and managing the financial resources of the criminal group.”
Additionally, “illicit funds of the criminal organization” were found associated with the second arrested person, who assisted in “hiding assets and values,” as well as “various luxury vehicles used by other members of the organization.”
The couple may face up to 12 years in prison. However, they are yet to appear before the Lisbon Appeals Court for the application of precautionary measures.
