Ronnie Lessa is among the targets of Operation Florida Heat, by the Federal Police, carried out in conjunction with the Federal Public Ministry and support from the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Agency of the United States Embassy this Tuesday (15). ).
The retired PM is already in prison, accused of being the executioner of councilor Marielle Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes, in 2018.
In the new investigation, he is accused of participating in international arms trafficking. THE CNN contacted Ronnie Lessa’s defense and awaits a response.
Two other people were arrested in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
About 50 federal police officers, members of the GAECO/MPF and American agents, serve seven preventive arrest warrants and five search and seizure warrants, issued by the 1st Federal Criminal Court of Rio de Janeiro, in the capital of Rio, in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso. do Sul, and in Miami, USA.
The action aims to dismantle a criminal organization dedicated to international arms trafficking from the United States to Brazil. The name of the operation refers to the American state from where the weapons were sent to Brazil.
According to the investigations, which have lasted about two years, the group was responsible for the acquisition of firearms, parts, accessories and ammunition in the US. Weapons arrived in Brazil in containers by sea or in postal orders by air.
Most of the time, the material was packed inside equipment such as welding machines and printers, shipped along with other items, such as telephones, electronic equipment, food supplements, clothes and shoes.
The weapons were taken to the states of Amazonas, São Paulo and Santa Catarina and their final destination was a residence in Vila Isabel, Rio de Janeiro, which was one of the addresses inspected by the PF. From this house, the weapons were removed from the equipment and then distributed to drug dealers, militiamen and assassins for hire.
The money for the purchase of weapons was sent from Brazil to the United States through money changers. So far, a Brazilian has been identified, who owns steakhouses in Boston, who received part of the amounts and passed them on to targets operating abroad.
Also according to the PF, the group invested the money acquired from arms trafficking in residential real estate, cryptocurrencies, shares, luxury vehicles and boats. The Justice decreed the confiscation of assets, valued at about R$ 10 million.
Throughout the investigation, thousands of weapons, parts, accessories and ammunition of different calibers have already been seized, both in Brazil and in the United States.
The criminal group must answer for the crimes of international arms trafficking, criminal organization and money laundering.
Source: CNN Brasil
