Without asking for arrests and carrying out searches without locating weapons, the Army says the investigation into theft is advanced

The Brazilian Army carried out four search and seizure warrants for two consecutive days in the city of Guarulhos, in Greater São Paulo.

Cell phones and computers were seized at the sites, but two weapons, stolen from the war arsenal in September, remain missing.

In a press conference held this afternoon, the agency reported that the investigation is at an advanced stage and that not asking for arrests – which has not been done so far – could be part of a strategy.

In total, 19 of the 21 stolen weapons have already been located with the support of security forces in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. On three occasions, weapons were found abandoned in the respective states after receiving complaints.

According to General Maurício Vieira Gama, chief of staff of the Southeast Military Command, 19 soldiers remain administratively detained. They were responsible for the chain of custody and maintenance of weapons and have no connection with the theft.

The former director of the São Paulo War Arsenal, Lieutenant Colonel Batista, was dismissed from his position.

We have no doubt that there was a theft. We rule out the possibility of a counting failure

Maurício Vieira Gama

The main line of investigation is that military personnel participated in the action that resulted in the theft of machine guns that were classified as “unusable” due to the high repair costs.

“There would be no other way for the weapons to come out without the action of the military, details are being investigated,” said the general.

The completion of the investigation, which remains confidential, and the identification of those responsible for the crime should take place by mid-December.