Police arrest 13 for profiting R$11 million from truck theft

The operation complies with 88 court orders, including 13 arrest warrants, 14 search and seizure warrants and measures to block and seize assets, in addition to the kidnapping of four properties and 13 vehicles, linked to the targets. The Judiciary also ordered the suspension of the activities of four companies and the prohibition of four people being investigated from carrying out business activities.

The investigation launched by the Specialized Robbery and Theft Police Station (Derf-Sinop) identified a criminal structure that operated mainly in Sinop and the region. Those involved stole modules from trucks and sent the parts to receivers and traders.

The targets of the operation also used companies in the mechanics and automotive parts trade to receive, store and resell the stolen products. The investigation also highlighted the movement of amounts resulting from crimes through bank accounts and companies used to make it difficult to identify the origin of the funds.

The legal measures affect individuals and legal entities investigated by Derf, which obtained authorization from the Court to block bank accounts worth up to R$11 million, in addition to the seizure of properties and vehicles linked to the targets, and the suspension of business activities.

Judicial decisions seek to interrupt criminal activity, preserve property related to crimes and prevent those under investigation from continuing to obtain an economic advantage from stolen products.

At the end of the operation, the prisoners and all seized material will be sent to Derf-Sinop, where the appropriate legal procedures will be carried out, with seizures recorded and arrests formalized. The elements collected will be subjected to analysis and may form part of the investigation’s set of evidence.

After this stage, the prisoners will remain at the disposal of the Court for the custody hearing and other procedural acts. The evidence gathered during the investigation will be forwarded to the competent authorities for analysis and eventual accountability of those involved, in accordance with due legal process.

Investigation

Derf-Sinop's investigation identified that the group worked in an organized manner to steal electronic modules from trucks parked on public roads and company yards.

Those involved previously identified the locations and vehicles that would be targets. After the thefts, the modules were sent to receivers and commercial establishments.

The investigation also identified the so-called “rescue” of the pieces. In this scheme, workshop owners acted as intermediaries and charged the victims themselves for the return of the stolen modules.

The products were also sold outside Sinop. Some of the pieces were destined for buyers from other municipalities and states.

The Civil Police also identified the movement of values ??obtained from crimes. Resources were transferred between different accounts and, in some cases, passed through formally constituted companies.

Operation name

The name Módulo Oculto refers to the electronic modules stolen from the trucks and the way in which the criminal organization hid the origin of the products and resources obtained through crimes.

The operation seeks to reach the entire criminal chain. The activities include those responsible for the thefts, the receivers, the merchants involved and those responsible for moving and hiding valuables.