One day after turning himself in to the Federal Police (PF), José Eduardo Neves Cabral will be transferred this Friday (25) to the same prison where his father, the former governor of Rio de Janeiro Sérgio Cabral, is. The two will stay at the Special Prison Battalion of the Military Police, in Niterói, in the Metropolitan Region.

José Eduardo was considered by the PF to be one of the main targets of the Smoke Free operation, which investigates an illegal cigarette trade scheme. The criminal organization would have transported and sold goods coming from territories dominated by drug traffickers and militiamen.

The former governor’s son had been wanted since Wednesday (23), the day the operation was launched, and presented himself on Thursday (24). The defense informed that it is sure that José Eduardo’s innocence will be proved during the course of the process.

So far, of the 27 targets of the operation, 13 have been arrested. The approximately 300 police officers who participated in the action also seized BRL 400,000 in cash, in addition to thousands of illegal cigarettes, luxury vehicles, jewelry, media, cell phones, computers and documents.

According to PF investigations, the criminal organization would have left a loss of BRL 2 billion to the public coffers of the Union. It would still count on the participation of a PF agent, military police and firefighters, all members of the cell responsible for the group’s security.

Those investigated may respond for tax evasion, simulated duplicate, qualified reception, active and passive corruption, money laundering and currency evasion. If convicted, they could face a minimum sentence of 66 years in prison.