Suspect in PCC 'crime tribunal' arrested in Cubatão following lawyer's abduction
Wagner Silva Medeiros, known as 'Cabelera', was detained in Cubatão as part of Operation Faithful Patronage. He is said to be involved in the abduction of a lawyer by the PCC.
'Cabelera' arrested in Cubatão over involvement in lawyer's abduction linked to PCC
Wagner Silva Medeiros, 42 years old, known as 'Cabelera', was arrested on Friday afternoon (4th) at his residence in the Vila São José neighbourhood in Cubatão (SP), g1.globo.com reported. The detention took place during an expansion of Operation Faithful Patronage, which was launched to dismantle a criminal organisation from the First Capital Command (PCC) involved in abduction, extortion, torture and threats.
The victim of the crimes is criminal defence lawyer Rafaell Câmara Roque, 36 years old, who was held hostage for approximately six hours in an alleged PCC "crime tribunal" in June. Rafaell told g1 that he was released after promising to abandon a pending legal action.
Officers apprehended Wagner before he could resist. At the location, various electronic devices were seized that, according to the Public Prosecutor's Office, will be submitted for analysis and may provide new evidence for investigations. Wagner's defence team was not reached by the time of publication.
Operation mobilised special forces across four cities
The main phase of Operation Faithful Patronage was carried out on 12 August by the Special Operations Group to Combat Organised Crime (GAECO), with support from Rota, the 3rd Shock Battalion, the Canine Unit and the Special Operations Command (COE). Warrants were executed at addresses linked to seven suspects in the cities of Guarujá, São Vicente, Praia Grande and Cubatão, as well as Florianópolis (SC).
The operation resulted in the arrest of William Nascimento Boaventura, said to be responsible for the ambush that led to the lawyer's abduction. During the same operation, José Armerindo Santos de Carvalho, known as Boqueta, died after becoming involved in a confrontation with military police in São Vicente. Boqueta was a client of Rafaell, who had been representing him in cases involving illegal firearm possession and actions against the state. During his captivity, the lawyer had called Boqueta for help, but received no response.
Background to the case: company dispute and criminal group's interest
The abduction originated in a legal action filed by Rafaell against a company allegedly controlled by Wagner Rodrigues dos Santos, identified as a member of the faction. The lawyer represented clients who were said to have been expelled from the company by Wagner, with whom they had maintained a relationship since childhood. According to Rafaell, the suspect had promised to compensate the partners financially for their exit from the business, which did not occur.
The group's objective in abducting the lawyer was to force him to abandon the case and obtain the address of the client he was representing — a former partner of Wagner. The business at dispute, located in Guarujá (SP), had attracted the criminal group's interest because it occupied 440 m² in a port area and consisted of three fishing boats, two refrigerated chambers, three shrimp-cleaning machines and an ice-making machine.
Complaint and investigation
After his release, Rafaell approached the Public Prosecutor's Office to report the case. GAECO began the investigation and, in August, coordinated the operation with the Military Police. Wagner's arrest three weeks after the initial phase of the operation represents a further step in the execution of warrants issued as part of the inquiry.
g1 attempted to contact Wagner's defence team, but received no response by the time of publication.
Source: Google News BR — São Paulo