President of Império de Casa Verde is arrested in operation against PCC in SP

An operation carried out by FICCO-SP (Integrated Force to Combat Organized Crime in São Paulo) on Tuesday morning targeted a transnational criminal organization specializing in international drug trafficking and money laundering. One of the targets is Alexandre Constantino Furtado, vice president of Liga-SP (League of Samba Schools of São Paulo) and president of Império de Casa Verde, identified as a member of PCC (First Command of the Capital). He was arrested by the Federal Police in São Paulo.

Warrants are being executed at the headquarters of Império de Casa Verde, in the North Zone of São Paulo. According to CNN’s investigation, Alexandre is suspected of directly negotiating the shipment of drugs to Europe. The samba school functioned as an office for him, where he received ‘clients’ and contacts. However, although Alexandre financially invested in the school, no money laundering activity linked to the institution was identified.

In total, the operation aims to execute 22 arrest warrants and 40 search and seizure warrants, issued by the 4th Federal Court of Belém, in the states of São Paulo, Pará, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, and Goiás. Investigations began after a cocaine seizure at the Port of Vila do Conde, in Barcarena (PA), in February 2021. On that occasion, federal police seized 458 kg of cocaine, found within a quartz cargo, intended for the Port of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.

The police operation identified the members of the transnational criminal organization, as well as the entire logistic structure set up to channel cocaine production to Europe. The investigation also uncovered an entire business logistics focused on laundering illicit gains, involving fictitious companies and investments in formal market segments, such as restaurants and various service providers.

Tuesday’s operation is carried out by Ficco-SP, currently composed of the Federal Police, São Paulo State Public Security Secretariat – SSP/SP, São Paulo State Penitentiary Administration Secretariat – SAP/SP, and National Secretariat for Penal Policies (SENAPPEN).