Ítalo Nunes da Silva Mariano, a military police officer from Ceará, was arrested during an operation by the Tocantins Civil Police aimed at dismantling an alleged criminal organization involved in defrauding a military police competition held in June 2025. This operation, named Última Etapa, led to the arrest of eight individuals in total, including five candidates and three public servants accused of facilitating the fraud.

The operation's primary targets included participants of the competition who reportedly engaged in fraudulent activities, as well as public officials who allegedly assisted in orchestrating the deception. Ítalo was apprehended in Serra Talhada, a municipality in Pernambuco, under a preventive arrest warrant issued by the 1st Regional Court of Guarantees in Palmas. Other arrests were made across the states of Paraíba, Pará, and Goiás, indicating a broader network involved in the alleged fraudulent scheme.

After his arrest, Ítalo underwent a custody hearing in the afternoon, where the judge upheld his detention and ordered his transfer to the headquarters of the 5th Military Police Battalion in Ceará. This incident not only raises concerns about integrity in public service but also reflects ongoing efforts by Brazilian authorities to tackle corruption and fraud within police recruitment processes.