A dangerous leader of one of the world's deadliest drug trafficking organizations is arrested in Brazil

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File photo A member of the Brazilian criminal gang First Command of the PCC Capital, during a transmission on Goblo TV of a three and a half minute message from the band as a condition to release a kidnapped journalist in August 2006. (Credit: / AFP / Getty Images)

(CNN) - The Brazilian Police announced this Sunday that they arrested the alleged leader of one of the world's deadliest drug trafficking transatlantic organizations, the "First Command of the Capital" of Brazil, known as PCC.

Andre de Oliveira Macedo, or Andre do Rap, was arrested in his mansion at the elegant Angra dos Reis beach resort in Rio de Janeiro by the Sao Paulo police in a massive interstate operation where two helicopters and ships were seized worth 1.7 million dollars.

Operation unleashed na manhã from Sunday (15/9) by Delegacia Antissequestro de São Paulo, Undersecretary of Intellectuality of @PMERJ and hair of Inteligência do # 33BPM on “André do Rap”, member of the PCC dome (SP), in condominium of luxo in Angra dos Reis. pic.twitter.com/Z8AfVEwWvd

- PMERJ (@PMERJ) September 15, 2019

The police video broadcast on Sunday showed the arrest of Macedo and other suspects early in the morning.

Police Commissioner Fabio Pinheiro Lopes, who was tracking Macedo's whereabouts, said the suspect traveled a lot and was identified after buying expensive ships.

"He said he traveled all over Brazil and at some point he lived in Holland," Pinheiro said.

Macedo, who was wanted by Interpol since 2013, allegedly worked with the Italian 'Ndrangheta' mafia organization to distribute cocaine in Europe across the coast of Rio-Sao Paulo.

According to InSight Crime, The PCC, or is one of the most powerful criminal groups in the world with close ties to the Italian mafia. It is believed that this criminal group is the largest “and best organized” organization in Brazil and its members are from all states of the country; The criminal organization has expanded its operations both in some South American countries and in Europe and Asia, according to InsightCrime.

The PCC is a branch of the Red Command, criminal organizations formed by prisoners in Brazil's notoriously deadly prison system. The criminal group has more than 11,000 members, investigators say.

Drug trafficking