PF finds clandestine weapons factory and seizes parts to assemble rifles in SP The Federal Court postponed the testimonies of ten accused of being part of a transnational criminal organization that clandestinely manufactured and sold restricted-use firearms. The testimonies would take place this Thursday (16) and Friday (17), during investigation and trial hearings. With the postponement, the hearings should begin on August 6th. ? The pre-trial and trial hearing is the stage of the process in which statements are taken from the parties involved in the case. Follow g1 Piracicaba on Instagram The scheme came to light in August last year, with the discovery of a clandestine AR-15 rifle factory in Santa Bárbara d’Oeste (SP) and the seizure of 183 weapons in Americana (SP). According to the Federal Police, the factory used million-dollar high-precision equipment and resistant parts, and supplied weapons to criminal factions in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Although its façade was the production of aeronautical parts, the company exclusively produced rifles, according to investigations. Police seize 40 AR-15 rifles that would supply factions in SP and RJ operation that closed clandestine weapons factory in Santa Bárbara Secretariat of Public Security/Reproduction Below, see who the ten defendants are who will testify to the Court and the functions of each one within the criminal organization, according to the complaint from the Federal Public Ministry (MPF): Silas Diniz Carvalho (arrested) - appointed as one of the leaders of the gang; Gabriel Carvalho Belchior - established on May 16, 2024, under orders from Silas, in Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, the company that used the production of aeronautical parts to produce weapons as a front; Wendel dos Santos Bastos - leased the company's space with all the machinery contained therein and invested in machines intended for machining firearms produced by the criminal organization; Marcely Ávila Machado (house arrest) - Silas's wife, controlled the payment for the lease of the space, in the monthly value of R$75.5 thousand; Dinael Enrique Borges (arrested) - sent emails to Gabriel about the closure of the clandestine factory's cash flow; Anderson Custódio Gomes (arrested) - images from his files show the machining of rifle components, which also relate him to the manufacture of weapons, as well as videos, with guidance on the process; Janderson Aparecido Ribeiro de Azevedo (prisoner) - several video recordings of him associated with the different stages of production at the armaments factory, including conferences on activities and instructions on manufacturing; Lucas Gonçalves Silva (arrested) - was one of the machine operators at the Santa Bárbara d'Oeste factory, working at a managerial level; Walcenir Gomes Ribeiro (prisoner) – Silas’ trusted person. It gave the name to the rental contract for a property in Americana where Anderson and Janderson were arrested and 31,000 gun parts were seized; Diego José Santana - contracted services to transport firearms to communities in Rio de Janeiro. In addition to them, at the beginning of July this year, the Federal Court made Luiz Carlos Siqueira a defendant, accused of acting in the reception of dozens of postal shipments, originating from the United States, with the same characteristics as other shipments controlled by the organization. At least two of them contained more than 100 pieces of firearms and were seized. As the complaint against Siqueira was recently accepted, his case takes place separately from the other defendants. Therefore, he should not participate in the August hearings. What the factory was like At the factory address, machines, tools and molds used in the manufacture of weapons were found. The seized parts were enough to produce 80 rifles. The Federal Police of Campinas had already seized rifles manufactured in Brazil, but made with 3D printers, with plastic materials, and not with metal parts, in the pattern of the AR-15 rifle, like those located. At the factory, a large amount of million-dollar equipment was found with high precision and the software necessary to produce the parts to assemble the weapons. These parts were produced through machining, a process in which the raw material (metal) is sculpted to give rise to the desired shape. Federal Police find clandestine firearms factory in the interior of SP Federal Police What happens now In the investigation and trial hearings, in addition to those being investigated, witnesses from the parties involved are also heard. According to the Federal Court, after the end of the hearings, the criminal action will enter the due diligence phase - details about these due diligence were not disclosed. Federal Police find clandestine firearms factory in the interior of SP Federal Police VIDEOS: everything about Piracicaba and the region See more news about the region at g1 Piracicaba