This Monday (23), the Civil Police launched Operation Caminhos do Cobre, which targets a gang suspected of cable theft and moving around R$400 million in five years. According to investigations, the group used false invoices to give the appearance of legality for transactions.
Search and seizure warrants are carried out in the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Tocantins. In Rio, the action takes place in the capital and in the municipalities of Nilópolis, Mesquita and Itaguaí.
According to investigators, the organization had interstate operations and a structure considered “financially sophisticated”. Thefts were carried out mainly during the early hours of the morning, using trucks to pull out underground cables. Motorcycles acted as scouts to monitor police movements and block roads, while the financial sector was responsible for issuing false tax documents.
