A machine for producing cigarettes measuring more than 6 meters in length, almost 2 meters in height and weighing more than 5 tons disappeared from a warehouse in the City of Police, an address where most of the specialized police stations of the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro are located. January.
The equipment, valued at around R$550,000, was seized during an action by the General Department for Combating Corruption, Organized Crime and Money Laundering in July 2022, which discovered a clandestine cigarette factory that held 23 Paraguayans and a Brazilian working in a situation similar to slavery, in Duque de Caxias, in Baixada Fluminense. The action was carried out in partnership with the Federal Police and the Public Ministry of Labor.
The machine was stored in a warehouse with seized goods belonging to the Robbery and Cargo Theft Police Station, at the back of the complex. There was no camera monitoring in operation at the location.
The equipment, along with other goods, was auctioned at the request of the Public Ministry of Labor, so that the money could be used to pay workers held as slaves. However, according to the MPT, “it was realized that he had disappeared when the bidders showed up at the Police City to look for him.”
According to the Civil Police, as soon as the corporation's current management became aware of the incident, it was determined that the institution's General Inspectorate would open an investigation to identify and hold those involved responsible, as well as clarify the circumstances of the incident. The investigation is ongoing. And the institution promised to resume camera monitoring throughout the Police City, including in seizure warehouses.
In a statement, the corporation reinforced that it does not condone any type of misconduct or illicit activity.
Source: CNN Brasil
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