Two Brazilian PCC members arrested in Bolivia for double homicide in Santa Cruz
Bolivian police arrested two Brazilian citizens linked to the PCC for killing two compatriots in Santa Cruz. A Bolivian was also detained.
Two PCC members captured in Bolivia accused of double crime in Santa Cruz
Bolivia's police detained two Brazilian citizens linked to the criminal organisation First Capital Command (PCC), accused of murdering two compatriots in the eastern region of Santa Cruz in a drug trafficking context, infobae.com reported on Thursday.
The detainees were identified as Enrique Almeida Jiménez, 25, and Daniel Gómez Martínez, 28. A Bolivian citizen, whose identity was not disclosed, was also arrested alongside them.
Police commander Adrián Álvarez confirmed at a press conference that both Brazilians "belong to the PCC", a fact verified with Brazil's Federal Police. According to Álvarez, both men have records for trafficking in controlled substances, organised crime and contract killings.
Authorities established that they were the "direct perpetrators" of the double homicide, reported nearly three weeks ago. As evidence, two firearms, ammunition and a vehicle used to flee after committing the crime were found.
Bolivian president Rodrigo Paz had announced hours earlier the capture of a "senior PCC member" sought in Brazil for drug trafficking, arms trafficking and organised crime, with a pending ten-year sentence. "It was an intelligence operation, coordinated with Brazil's Federal Police," Paz wrote on social network X.
For months, contract killings have been repeated in border areas with Brazil, particularly in the regions of Santa Cruz, Beni and Pando—the latter also bordering Peru—leading the Government to deploy the Army and elite groups to the area.
Authorities maintain that there is a territorial dispute between the PCC and Red Command (CV), another Brazilian criminal organisation, over control of Bolivian drug trafficking routes.
In response to the escalation of violence, police stepped up patrols in Santa Cruz in recent hours with more than 200 officers. Commander Álvarez also announced that joint operations would be coordinated with the Armed Forces.
Source: Google News BO — Crime