Brazilian police on Friday arrested one of the country's
most-wanted drug lords and prevented the criminal gang he ruled
from carrying out a major operation to take over a "favela" in the
northern zone of the capital city.
Marcelo Soares de Medeiros, nicknamed Marcelo PQD, was planning
to invade the Morro do Dende neighborhood and kill the drug lord
that currently coordinates traffic there.
Six other gang members were also arrested, including former Army
parachutists and an employee of a state deputy.
The gang was at a "base" they secretly held in the slum, waiting
for other members to arrive. They were preparing to initiate the
operation when the police laid siege to the house, whose owner also
participated in the plan.
Following negotiations, which relied on the help of relatives of
the criminals, the seven gangsters surrendered. Five rifles and
four pistols were recovered from the house.
Police investigations started three months ago. According to the
Specialized Police Department, the group arrested with PQD received
military training and are known as "kamikazes" for their activities
in the front line of confrontations with other gangs.
(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2007)
