Death of teenager leads police to group suspected of inducing young people to commit suicide online

The action was motivated by the investigation into the death of a 13-year-old teenager in Naviraí (MS) on July 22.

The operation is coordinated nationally by Depca (Specialized Police Station for the Protection of Children and Adolescents), from Mato Grosso do Sul, in conjunction with Ciberlab, from Senasp (National Public Security Secretariat), an agency of the MJSP (Ministry of Justice and Public Security). There is support from the civil police of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Pará and Ceará.

Seven court warrants were served simultaneously: six search and seizure measures against teenagers and an arrest warrant against an adult being investigated. The measures were carried out in Mato Grosso do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Ceará and Pará, the latter referring to the arrest warrant.

Seized cell phones, computers and other electronic equipment will be inspected. According to the Civil Police, the material can help identify new victims and other members of the organization. Two Depca teams personally monitored compliance with the measures in Rio de Janeiro and Ceará; the other warrants were executed by local civil police.

HOW THE INVESTIGATION STARTED

The case began with the investigation into the suicide of the 13-year-old teenager in Naviraí. Depca's first investigations, in joint action with Ciberlab, indicated that the death was not an isolated case, but was linked to the activities of a structured criminal organization with national reach in the digital environment.

Based on the analysis of digital evidence, the police identified a second victim in another state, whose identity was preserved, and elements that point to the existence of other victims who have not yet been identified.

According to investigations, members of the organization maintained a permanent presence on different digital platforms, where they recruited children and adolescents in situations of emotional vulnerability and formed closed groups to exercise psychological manipulation on the victims.

Folha showed this month how digital groups organize themselves as factions, with division of tasks and hierarchies, and commit crimes against children and adolescents on platforms.

In the case of Mato Grosso do Sul, after gaining the trust of the teenagers, those being investigated subjected them to a continuous process of coercion, isolation and psychological violence, which included challenges of increasing violence, self-mutilation, humiliation and degrading exposure - practices used, according to the police, to deepen control over the victims.

The investigations continue, and new measures may be adopted based on the expertise of the seized material.