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| Cash, guns found in Da Rocha’s possession. Photo: Brazil police |
The boss of a cocaine empire has finally been captured after
spending 30 years using plastic surgery to avoid being apprehended by Brazilian
police.
spending 30 years using plastic surgery to avoid being apprehended by Brazilian
police.
Luiz Carlos da Rocha, who earned the nickname ‘White Head’,
is believed to be the chief of a huge drug empire in South America.
is believed to be the chief of a huge drug empire in South America.
He has a reported personal fortune of $100m (£77m) from
dealing the drug that has ravaged parts of the continent, The Telegraph.
dealing the drug that has ravaged parts of the continent, The Telegraph.
Brazilian police say da Rocha was arrested on Saturday in
the city of Sorisso in Mato Grosso state.
the city of Sorisso in Mato Grosso state.
Da Rocha had changed his name to Vitor Luiz de Moraes and
had plastic surgery to alter his facial features, but police compared old
photographs with his current appearance and concluded they had apprehended the
right person.
had plastic surgery to alter his facial features, but police compared old
photographs with his current appearance and concluded they had apprehended the
right person.
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| Da Rocha’s many faces over the years. Photo: Brazil police |
The operation to catch him – Operation Spectrum – saw 150
agents carry out two dozen raids, during which they seized $10million
(£7.7million) worth of luxury cars, planes and property including farms.
agents carry out two dozen raids, during which they seized $10million
(£7.7million) worth of luxury cars, planes and property including farms.
Police say his organisation produced cocaine in Peru,
Colombia and Bolivia, and exported it to Europe and the United States via
Brazil and Paraguay.
Colombia and Bolivia, and exported it to Europe and the United States via
Brazil and Paraguay.
They estimate that da Rocha brought in 5 tonnes of cocaine
per month in Brazil alone.
per month in Brazil alone.
Police also accuse da Rocha of being one of the main
suppliers to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro’s violent drug traffickers.
suppliers to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro’s violent drug traffickers.
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