Rodrigo Pires dos Santos, aged 40, known as Danone, identified by the police as one of the leaders of the First Command of the Capital (PCC) in Baixada Santista, was killed by agents from the Special Operations Coordination (COE), of the Military Police, in this Friday morning (16), in Guarujá, on the coast of São Paulo. He commanded robberies and drug trafficking in the region.
Danone and two other accomplices died after a confrontation with the military police. The COE agents were carrying out patrols on a boat, when they allegedly saw a man armed with a rifle in the window of an apartment.
Upon accessing the condominium, the police said they saw a suspect running to an apartment, where the door was left open. The police were met with gunfire and clashed with the three men.
The suspects were taken to the Road Emergency Care Unit (UPA), but did not resist. The Specialized Criminal Investigations Division (Deic) of Santos is investigating the case.
In a statement, the SSP confirmed the information about Danone's death in Baixada Santista: “The leader of a criminal faction and two associates died this Friday (16), in a confrontation with the Military Police”, said the ministry.
According to the Santos Civil Police, he was a “tower” of the faction, also known as “general of progress”, which is a type of regional manager of the PCC in Baixada.
In the faction's hierarchy, Danone was only accountable to the “final tune”, a leader from Baixada Santista. In addition to coordinating drug trafficking in the region, he managed the so-called “disciplines”, who are members of the faction responsible for punishing other members who had broken internal rules.
Danone's criminal record is extensive, and includes more than 15 indictments for crimes such as reception, theft, damage, bodily harm, vandalism, prison rebellion, false imprisonment, etc.
In 2012, Danone was accused of participating in the death of PM sergeant Marcelo Fukuhara, who was shot in front of his wife's buffet, while walking the dog. The crime occurred in the Ponta Praia neighborhood, in Santos.
Three years later, in 2015, the drug dealer was arrested for a shooting attack on a Federal Revenue vessel.
According to the Secretary of Public Security, Guilherme Derrite, in November last year, a Civil Police operation in partnership with the Navy seized a rifle, two pistols and a large quantity of drugs from Danone's house, who managed to escape.
Derrite also stated that Danone “was involved in international drug trafficking and is suspected of involvement in an attempt on the lives of public agents”.
On social media, Derrite published a video where drug dealer Danone appears at a party, holding weapons in the air.
“The fight against crime in Baixada Santista faces challenges because scenes like this occurred in the region without there being adequate intelligence work to combat them. The man in the video, brandishing a gun, was known as Danone and died today in a confrontation with the COE,” said the secretary.
Source: CNN Brasil
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