PCPA's Strick Operation Executes Search and Preventive Arrest Warrants in Mato Grosso
The suspects used digital platforms and messaging apps to falsely mediate the sale of vehicles and animals, such as cattle.
The Civil Police of Pará and Rio Grande do Sul, with the support of the Civil Police of Mato Grosso, launched the "Strick Operation" on Tuesday (10), resulting in the execution of search and seizure warrants in the cities of Várzea Grande and Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, as well as the preventive arrest of a woman investigated for her involvement in a scam known as "false intermediary."
"The Strick Operation was planned with the aim of dismantling a criminal association that committed fraud through this type of scam. From this, it was possible to initiate investigations to curb the criminal practice," explains the operation's leader, delegate Felipe Silva.
The action is part of a national mobilization to combat crimes of this nature and received support from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), through the Cyber Operations Laboratory (Ciberlab).
"The suspects posed as intermediaries between legitimate buyers and sellers, inducing victims, who resided both in Pará and in other states across the country, to transfer amounts for the acquisition of goods to Pix keys in the name of third parties indicated by the scammers. The investigated offenses caused losses of about R$ 500,000 to the victims," emphasizes delegate Felipe Silva.
According to the investigations, those involved used digital platforms and messaging apps to falsely mediate the sale of vehicles and animals.
In one case, involving a victim from Pará, the loss was R$ 150,000. During the investigation of the case, a woman had a preventive arrest warrant issued for having received one-third of that amount. The warrant, issued by the 1st Criminal Court of the Castanhal District, was executed in the city of Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso.
In addition to the arrest, five search and seizure warrants were executed, resulting in the seizure of mobile phones and the amount of R$ 4,100.00 in cash. Throughout the investigation, eight temporary arrests and two preventive arrests have already been carried out, as well as another 19 search and seizure warrants.
The investigations are ongoing, aiming to gather more information about the crimes of criminal association and fraud, and to locate other possible involved parties.
Text by Raphaela Rocha, under the supervision of Bruna Ribeiro
