Group suspected of theft of cancer medicines is target of operation in Rio

A man was arrested early this Wednesday morning (17), suspected of being part of a gang that stole medicines used to treat cancer from a private hospital in the north of Rio de Janeiro.

Diego Almeida de Araújo and two other accomplices had temporary arrest warrants issued by the courts. The targets of the three warrants are from the communities of Arará and Mangueira, in the north of the city.

In addition, the Robbery and Theft Police Station, responsible for the investigation, also carries out five search and seizure warrants. Investigators are working to try to identify three other accomplices in the action.

According to delegate Moyses Santana, the trio would have participated in at least three robberies at the same health unit. In the first of them, in May, approximately one million reais worth of oncology medications were stolen.

According to the Civil Police, the group returned in October and posed as restaurant delivery men to try to rob the hospital. This time, however, unit guards prevented the action.

In November, the gang once again invaded the clinic. CCTV camera footage showed that three armed men entered the hospital and announced the robbery. Carrying a firearm and wearing uniforms and badges similar to those at the hospital, the criminals managed to steal high-cost oncology medications that were stored in a refrigerator.

In the images you can see the moment the employees are relieved. A woman even feels sick after the action.

While the action was taking place, three other accomplices were spotted outside, supporting the action. The loss was estimated at approximately R$80 thousand.

According to the delegate, in addition to arresting the thieves, the objective of the action is to reach the recipients of the medicines. To do this, investigators will listen to the suspects and analyze the content of seized cell phones.

B.CNN sought out Marcos Moraes Hospital and is awaiting positioning.