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Paraíba Civil Police Arrests 12 Suspects and Hits Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Network in Five States in Operation Harvest.
The Harvest Operation, launched this Wednesday (17) by the Paraíba Civil Police, resulted in the arrest of 12 people and the execution of 50 judicial warrants in five Brazilian states.
The action, carried out in partnership with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, aims at a complex structure of drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime, which moved around R$ 65 million in the last few months.
The judicial orders were executed simultaneously in Paraíba, Bahia, Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina, as part of a coordinated offensive to financially weaken the criminal organization.
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Right from the start of the Harvest Operation, the security forces executed 35 search and seizure warrants and 15 arrest warrants, targeting suspects in different regions of the country.
Thus, according to the police, the geographical dispersion of the targets evidences the high degree of organization of the group, which operated in an integrated manner to conceal the illicit origin of the money from drug trafficking.
Paraíba Civil Police Coordinates Nationwide Action
The Paraíba Civil Police coordinated the entire investigation and led the execution of the Harvest Operation, which had support from local police forces in the involved states.
In Paraíba, the police executed the warrants mainly in João Pessoa and Campina Grande, strategic cities for the functioning of the scheme.
In addition, there were simultaneous actions in Salvador and Camaçari, Bahia; in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul; in various cities in São Paulo, such as São Paulo, Guarulhos, Santo André, Araçatuba, and Monções; and also in Criciúma, Santa Catarina.
This reach, according to investigators, demonstrates that the group operated as a true national network of organized crime.
Investigation Into Drug Trafficking Started in 2024
According to the Civil Police, the investigations that culminated in the Harvest Operation began in mid-2024.
The starting point was the arrest of Paraíba native João Batista da Silva, known as Júnior Pitoco, identified as the leader of a criminal faction with strong operations in the state.
During the investigations, agents identified that the group used interstate routes to distribute drugs and later employed sophisticated mechanisms for money laundering.
Moreover, this strategy allowed illicit funds to circulate within the formal financial system without raising immediate suspicion.
Leader of Organized Crime Arrested in Luxury Condominium
One of the main developments of the Harvest Operation was the arrest of Júnior Pitoco in São Paulo.
The police tracked the suspect to a high-end condominium in the Tatuapé neighborhood, in the eastern zone of São Paulo, where he lived away from the spotlight and attempted to evade authorities.
According to investigators, the choice of location was not random.
The intention was precisely to blend into high-income environments, making it more difficult to track his illicit activities. Yet, the Paraíba Civil Police managed to map his movements and execute the arrest.
Money Laundering Scheme Used “Fronts” and Companies
The investigations revealed that the money laundering scheme relied on the use of “fronts”, individuals with income incompatible with the large amounts being moved.
These individuals were responsible for making financial transfers and registering companies in their names, masking the origin of the funds.
Additionally, the criminal group directed part of the money to companies located in border regions of the country, which further complicated tracking.
Criminals already convicted for drug trafficking also appeared as beneficiaries of large transfers, reinforcing the structured nature of organized crime.
Asset Freezing and Financial Impact of the Harvest Operation
Moreover, in addition to the arrests, the Harvest Operation aimed to target the assets of the criminal organization. In total, assets and values belonging to 20 suspects were seized and frozen by judicial decision.
For the Paraíba Civil Police, this measure is essential to weaken the group in a lasting way.
“Combating drug trafficking necessarily involves the financial strangulation of criminal organizations,” highlight the investigators involved in the operation.
Harvest Operation Reinforces Fight Against Organized Crime
The Harvest Operation solidifies itself as one of the most relevant actions of the year in the fight against organized crime in Paraíba and other states.
By integrating police intelligence, interstate cooperation, and financial actions, the operation amplifies the impact of arrests and reduces the criminal group’s ability to reorganize.
Meanwhile, investigations remain ongoing.
Thus, new phases are not ruled out, and the Paraíba Civil Police emphasizes that it will continue to act to identify other involved and deepen the fight against drug trafficking and money laundering in the country.
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