The Federal Police launched an operation this Tuesday (12) to dismantle a gang specializing in wildlife trafficking. Arrest and search and seizure warrants were served in the capital of Rio de Janeiro and in the cities of Niterói, São Gonçalo, Itaboraí and Maricá, all in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro.
According to the PF, the trafficked animals were victims of mistreatment and were sold on social networks, generally accompanied by a “kit” of false documents. During the searches, an animal was found inside a type of trailer on the street, in front of the house of the main target of the operation.
Investigations revealed that at least 120 capuchin monkeys were trafficked by the group in one year. Among them were some that are threatened with extinction, such as the crested capuchin monkey.
Other wild animals were on the list of species sold by the group, such as macaws, birds, deer, snakes, iguanas and parrots.
The criminal organization, according to the PF, was led by a military firefighter and made up of hunters, fences, forgers and wildlife traffickers. The firefighter was arrested for illegal possession of a restricted firearm.
“The group also included the participation of Inea employees [Instituto Estadual do Ambiente] and the Environmental Policing Command [CPAm], as well as a university student and two veterinarians. After the operation begins, the respective professional veterinary council and institutions will be duly notified so that they can adopt the appropriate measures”, says the PF.
The Federal Police informs that “a large part of the amounts obtained through criminal practices, when not transacted in cash, were hidden in accounts of legal entities belonging to members of the criminal organization, or even in the name of third parties”.
Those investigated, whose names were not disclosed, will be responsible for the crimes of criminal organization, qualified reception, environmental crime, embezzlement, forgery of documents and public seals, forgery of private documents, use of false documents and ideological falsehood. If convicted, they could face additional sentences of 46 to 58 years in prison.
The PF also highlights that buyers of trafficked animals may also be liable for the crime of receiving them.
(Published by Fábio Munhoz)
Source: CNN Brasil
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