Police in Brazil

Brazilian Crypto Expert with Criminal Links Killed in São Paulo Airport Shooting

A Brazilian businessman and cryptocurrency expert with reported ties to one of Brazil’s most powerful criminal organizations, the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), was shot dead on Wednesday at São Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport. Antônio Vinicius Gritzbach, who had recently entered a plea deal with prosecutors to provide details on PCC’s money laundering operations, faced death threats from the gang in recent weeks, according to local reports.

Surveillance footage captured the chilling moment when two hooded men emerged from a vehicle wielding submachine guns and opened fire outside the airport terminal. Gritzbach attempted to flee, dropping his bag and running, but was struck multiple times and died at the scene. The attack also injured three bystanders, and police have since increased their presence around the airport and neighboring areas.

Gritzbach had been cooperating with authorities as part of a plea bargain, agreeing to expose how he helped the PCC launder millions of dollars. He was reportedly a pivotal figure in the gang’s financial network, and his cooperation included providing information on other members and sharing critical documents.

In return for his cooperation, São Paulo prosecutors were prepared to grant Gritzbach leniency, including a judicial pardon and a reduced sentence for his role in money laundering.

The PCC, established in the early 1990s, has grown into one of Brazil’s most notorious drug trafficking syndicates, with influence extending beyond Latin America. A 2023 report estimated the group’s annual revenue at nearly $1 billion, largely from international cocaine trafficking. The gang is also believed to have a significant presence abroad, with around 1,000 affiliates in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, according to recent Portuguese security assessments.

Authorities are currently investigating the fatal attack, viewing it as a stark reminder of the PCC’s pervasive influence and the risks faced by former affiliates who cooperate with law enforcement.

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