Caught with Machine Guns and Cocaine: Brazilian Gang Member Arrested in Alcochete

Police Arrests Brazilian Gang Member
On Tuesday, the Judicial Police arrested a member of the PCC (First Command of the Capital), Brazil's largest criminal organization, at his home in Alcochete, on the southern bank of the Tagus River.

Arsenal Discovered
Gabriel Martinez Sousa, 38, known as Fant, was living with his wife and children when police discovered two machine guns and a modified pistol capable of firing in bursts. Currently, there is no evidence that his family was aware of his involvement in a sophisticated cocaine trafficking scheme.

Cocaine Trafficking Methodology
The police did not disclose the identity of the detained individual but explained that traffickers employed a well-known method for transporting drugs from Latin America to Europe. They used divers to hide the cocaine in the hulls of ships, in a submerged compartment known as the rudder box, after ensuring it was waterproofed. This method limits transport to about 100 kilograms at a time due to the compartment's size.

Logistics Organizer
As a legal resident in Portugal, Sousa was tasked with organizing the logistics for retrieving the drugs from the ships upon their arrival in national and European ports. Various diving equipment and several thousands of euros were also found at his residence.

Simultaneous Operations in Brazil
In a related operation named Emergentes, Brazilian authorities arrested six others in São Paulo, Paraná, and Santa Catarina, executing 26 search warrants. The operation is also investigating potential money laundering activities. Notably, one of the individuals targeted was a candidate for the Guarujá city council in 2024, who had connections to the PCC and proposed measures against juvenile delinquency and drug trafficking in his electoral program.