Businessman José Eduardo Neves Cabral left this Thursday afternoon (15) the police unit where he had been arrested since November 25 in Niterói, in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. He is the son of former governor Sérgio Cabral, who is imprisoned in the same place.
The businessman had preventive detention decreed under Operation Smoke Free, launched on November 23 by the Federal Police and the Federal Public Ministry (MPF).
José Eduardo surrendered on the 24th, at the Federal Police Superintendence, in downtown Rio. After going through a custody hearing, he had his prison maintained by Justice and was detained at the BEP.
The operation, which was supported by the US Homeland Security Investigations Agency, was aimed at dismantling an armed and transnational criminal organization specializing in the illegal trade of cigarettes.
300 federal police officers participated in the action, complying with 27 preventive arrest warrants and 50 search and seizure warrants, issued by the 3rd Federal Criminal Court of Rio de Janeiro.
The agents complied with orders to block, seize and seize assets, valued at around R$ 300 million. According to the Federal Police, the assets included real estate, luxury vehicles, cryptocurrencies, cash and amounts deposited in bank accounts, among others.
The investigation, which began in 2020, indicated the repeated action of a criminal group between 2019 and 2022, which counterfeited, issued invoices and deposited, transported and sold cigarettes originating from crime in territories dominated by other criminal organizations such as factions and militias.
The decision to release José Eduardo Cabral was made by the head judge of the 3rd Federal Criminal Court in Rio, Rosália Monteiro. The process is secret of Justice.
In a note, the press office of the Secretary of State for the Military Police informs that the businessman left the corporation’s unit, in Niterói, around 4 pm this Thursday, in compliance with the court order.
Source: CNN Brasil

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