Police Officer and Agents Remain in Custody Despite Release Order Over Drug Diversion
The 5th Criminal Court of João Pessoa ordered the release of officer Braz Morroni and two agents, but they remain imprisoned due to another preventive detention order.
Release Order Does Not Free Police Officer and Agents Accused of Drug Diversion in Paraíba
The 5th Criminal Court of João Pessoa issued a release warrant for police officer Braz Morroni and agents Everton Aires, known as "Bomba", and Eduardo Jorge, known as "Mão Branca", all accused of involvement in a drug diversion scheme at the Civil Police. According to g1.globo.com, which gained access to the decision from Friday (25), the three remain in custody despite the judicial order — because a preventive detention issued in another case remains in force.
The three face four proceedings in the Justice system of Paraíba. The decision of the 5th Criminal Court denied a request from the Public Ministry of Paraíba (MPPB) to convert temporary detention into preventive detention in that specific case and ordered the release "if for no other reason they are imprisoned". Since they remain under preventive detention in proceedings before the Military Court and Court for Crimes Involving Criminal Organisations of the Capital, Morroni, Aires and Jorge remain held at the Valentina de Figueiredo Special Prison.
In the same decision, the 5th Criminal Court declared itself incompetent to judge the case and found that it should be transferred to the Military Court and Court for Crimes Involving Criminal Organisations. The question of jurisdiction will still be reviewed by the Court of Justice of Paraíba (TJPB).
The defence of Braz Morroni informed g1 that it agrees with the revocation of temporary detention and hopes that the same understanding will be applied to the remaining preventive detention. The defence announced that it would issue a statement about the decision. The defences of Everton Aires and Eduardo Jorge were contacted but did not respond by the time this report was closed.
Investigation Conducted Since Anonymous Tip
The case stems from investigations conducted by the Special Action Group Against Organised Crime (Gaeco) and the Organised Crime Suppression Office (Draco), initiated following an anonymous tip. The three investigated were assigned to the Crimes Against Property Office.
According to the MPPB, the officer and agents used their status as police officers to appropriate seized drugs and remove drugs from third parties. The group simulated police operations and subsequently resold the material illegally, obtaining economic advantages for themselves and for a criminal organisation to which they were linked. According to the action, the facts occurred between 2024 and 2026.
To support the accusations, the MPPB gathered evidence obtained through mobile phone analysis, geolocation data from the vehicle used in the raids, breaking of electronic, banking and tax secrecy, monitoring of the investigated individuals, as well as documents and statements. The methodology described by the body indicates that the three received information about properties used to store drugs, conducted raids at those locations to divert the drugs and officially recorded only a fraction of the material seized.
Administrative Impropriety and Request for Loss of Office
The Public Ministry of Paraíba also filed an administrative impropriety action against the three employees, made public in August. In a preliminary ruling, the MPPB requested the immediate removal of the investigated individuals from public office and the blocking of assets to guarantee compensation to public funds.
In the first criminal complaint, the body charged the three with the crimes of qualified theft, abuse of authority, falsification of public documents and procedural fraud. In addition to conviction, the Public Ministry asked the Justice system for the loss of public office, the conversion of temporary detention into preventive detention and the payment of R$ 1 million in collective moral damages.
For the Public Ministry, the immediate removal of the employees is indispensable to ensure the progress of proceedings and prevent the commission of new crimes.
Source: Google News BR — São Paulo