Rogério Faria da Silva, 44, known as 'Morcegão,' identified as a leader of Brazil's notorious criminal faction, First Commando da Capital (PCC), was apprehended at the Giusfredo Santini Passenger Maritime Terminal. The arrest occurred in Sanots as Morcegão disembarked from the cruise ship Costa Pacifica on December 26, after a family vacation that began on December 22, reports OGlobo.

The operation was part of the ongoing "Narcos Operation," led by the Brazilian Police, with officers from the Division of General Investigations and the Special Operations Group of Limeira, supported by the 5th Tourist Service Detachment of the Porto de Santos.

Morcegão and his family took a cruise aboard the Costa Pacifica, currently sailing on its Brazilian Season with week-long itineraries along the coasts of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, including Ilhabela, Angra dos Reis, Búzios, Rio de Janeiro, and Balneário Camboriú.

Further Arrests and Seizures

The operation extended beyond Santos, leading to the arrests of two additional individuals linked to the PCC. These arrests took place in Limeira, a city in São Paulo state, where law enforcement executed two arrest warrants and 10 search and seizure warrants.

During a search of a property in Limeira, police discovered over 400 bricks of cocaine, cash, a cash-counting machine, vehicles, cell phones, and other items relevant to the investigation. The arrests included a key figure in drug distribution and a chemist actively involved in cocaine processing. Authorities found the chemist loading cocaine into an F250 pickup truck, and it is believed the pair relocated the drugs after learning of Morcegão's arrest.

The PCC, one of Brazil's most powerful criminal factions, is notorious for its involvement in drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and other illicit activities.