The operation that led to the arrest of the influencer and lawyer. Deolane Bezerra This Thursday (21) had an international dimension. The Public Prosecutor's Office of São Paulo maintained dialogue with the Public Prosecutor's Office of Italy and with Interpol agents during the investigations. Deolane was in Italian territory and would have been arrested there — she ended up being detained in Brazil because she returned earlier than expected by the Brazilian authorities.
His name was already on an Interpol wanted list before the operation was launched. According to prosecutor Lincoln Gakiya, from the São Paulo Public Prosecutor's Office, this is a list kept secret. Brazilian authorities asked Interpol that the arrest only take place after the operation was launched in Brazil, to avoid misunderstandings caused by the time difference — Italy is five hours ahead of Brasília.
Brazilian prosecutor was in Rome
Gakiya was in Italy for bilateral meetings with Interpol and local authorities, including prosecutors from the country's anti-mafia department. The goal was to exchange information about the PCC and organized crime operating in Italy. The prosecutor expected to participate in Deolane's arrest, should she need to be detained in a foreign country.
The connection with the 'Ndrangheta
The operation takes place within a broader context of investigations into the PCC on the international stage. Earlier this month, Italian mobster Vincenzo Pasquino revealed to prosecutors how the deal between the PCC and the [organization/organization] was struck. 'Ndrangheta — the Calabrian mafia, considered one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the world. Pasquino detailed routes through which tons of cocaine passed to Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, the prices charged for the drug, and the names of those involved. His information formed the basis for two police operations in Brazil and Italy.
The suspicions against Deolane
The influencer, with over 25 million followers on social media, is being investigated on suspicion of money laundering for the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital, a Brazilian criminal organization). She allegedly received payments from a transport company identified as the linchpin of the scheme, despite having no record of having worked for the company. Investigations also identified 35 companies opened by Deolane at the same address in Martinópolis, in the interior of São Paulo state, in a location that includes a low-income housing complex.
Based on the breaking of the influencer's bank and tax secrecy, the police claim to have identified other connections between her and the faction, without giving further details. At the home of Everton de Souza, identified as the organization's financial operator and also arrested, a box with Deolane's name on it was found containing cash.
Lawyer Rogério Nunes, who is defending the influencer, said he will comment as soon as he is fully informed about the case. (With information from Folha de S.Paulo)
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