Court orders release of police officer appointed by PF as 'pilot' of vehicle used in gold robbery in AM

Civil Police arrested in PF operation investigating those responsible for gold theft Disclosure The Federal Court ordered the release of Amazonas Civil Police investigator Luciano de Souza Granjeiro, preventively arrested by the Federal Police (PF) during Operation Pilot Escape, in Manaus. He is being investigated on suspicion of participating in an illegal gold theft scheme and being part of a criminal organization. The decision was signed on Monday night (6) by federal judge Thadeu José Piragibe Afonso, from the 2nd Federal Criminal Court of the Judiciary Section of Amazonas. The judge partially accepted the defense's request and revoked the preventive detention as he understood that there was an excess of time for the conclusion of the investigations and for the possible filing of a complaint by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF). Granjeiro was arrested on June 9 of this year. At the time, the Federal Police reported that he would be the "pilot" of the official vehicle used to transport a load of gold during a robbery investigated by the corporation. ? Join the g1 AM channel on WhatsApp The arrest was part of Operation Pilot Escape, an offshoot of Operation Criminal Assistance, which investigates the participation of public agents and other people in the theft and concealment of illegally extracted gold. Civilian police officer is arrested in Manaus during PF operation According to the decision, the investigator had been imprisoned for almost 30 days without the investigation having been concluded or a formal complaint being presented. In the Federal Court, the deadline for completing investigations with an arrested suspect is 15 days, which can be extended for another 15. The judge also highlighted that the delay was not caused by the defense. According to the decision, the police officer presented elements to support his version of the facts, such as alibis and records of access to a gym. For the judge, despite the complexity of the investigation, maintaining the prison term for an indefinite period could represent an early sentence. "If the State has not yet gathered sufficient elements to initiate criminal action, it is not reasonable for the citizen to continue to endure the most serious measure of restriction of freedom", stated the magistrate. In a statement, Granjeiro's defense stated that they always believed that the alibis presented demonstrated the police officer's non-participation in the facts investigated. "The defense remains confident that, at the end of the investigation, any remaining doubts will be definitively removed, with the innocence of the person being investigated being fully proven", says an excerpt from the note. Precautionary measures Despite revoking the preventive detention, the judge determined a series of precautionary measures that must be complied with by the investigator. Among them are the immediate suspension of functions in the Civil Police, with delivery of the institutional weapon, badge and other functional equipment; the prohibition of contact with other people under investigation, witnesses and family members involved in the case; and monthly court appearances to report on their activities. The police officer must also keep their addresses and contacts updated with the Federal Court and cannot change residence without prior communication to the Court. According to the decision, failure to comply with any of the measures could lead to the decree of a new preventive detention. Remember the case Two military police officers and a civil police officer are arrested with around 72 kg of gold in Amazonas Disclosure/PMAM Luciano Granjeiro's arrest occurred during a Federal Police operation investigating a scheme linked to the diversion of illegal gold in Amazonas. The investigations are an offshoot of the seizure of 77 kilos of illegal gold, valued at around R$50 million, carried out in October 2025. In the first phase of the investigation, three police officers, two military personnel and one civilian, were arrested in the act in a house in Manaus while trying to steal the cargo, according to the Federal Police. According to the corporation, Granjeiro was later identified as the fourth member of the group investigated. READ ALSO: Civilian police officer is arrested in Manaus during PF operation on suspicion of involvement in gold theft in AM Justice orders preventive arrest of PM sergeant suspected of escorting more than 600 kg of drugs in AM Arrested police officers are caught strolling and even shopping in Manaus; VIDEO