One Of World's Largest Arms Traffickers From Brazil Recaptured

 

João Filipe Barbieri used to be convicted for being section of a gang that smuggled thousands of rifles from the US hidden in swimming pool equipment.

Barbieri was once discovered at his mother's residence in a slum close to Rio de Janeiro.

He is the stepson of the gang leader, who is acknowledged as the Lord of Weapons.

The gang used to be caught in 2017 after a container with 60 military-style rifles it had dispatched from Miami was once intercepted at Rio's worldwide airport. Authorities say the hands have been bought to drug traffickers that function in many of Rio's slums, recognized as favelas.

Barbieri, viewed one of the gang's key members, used to be then convicted of fees along with palms trafficking and sentenced to 27 years in jail. But in November 2020 he managed to stroll out of a high-security jail in Rio after forging a court docket report that regarded to order his early release.

He then spent time in three exceptional states however ran out of money, police chief Mauro César informed a information convention after his arrest. Barbieri back to Rio to declare an estimated 500,000 reais (£65,000; $90,000) in money owed owed to him by means of drug traffickers however he used to be already underneath police surveillance, Mr César added.

He was once arrested in a police operation on Wednesday in the town of Niterói, 9km (6 miles) from Rio.

Barbieri's stepfather, Frederick Barbieri, was once arrested in the US in 2017 after the cargo with hands was once intercepted in Rio. He admitted to smuggling extra than 1,000 rifles to Brazil between 2014 and 2017 and is now serving a 13-year jail sentence in Miami.