On Friday, the Civil Police of São João da Boa Vista in São Paulo arrested the ninth member of a criminal gang specialized in truck robberies in Itajubá, Minas Gerais. The suspect, a 29-year-old man with a criminal record for receiving stolen property, was identified through cell phone analyses conducted during the first phase of the investigation. The operation, initially launched in February, aimed to dismantle the organized crime group responsible for truck thefts, modifications, and concealment.

Delegado Jorge Mazzi of the General Investigations Department revealed that the suspect was responsible for holding truck drivers at gunpoint during the robbery incidents. This arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing investigations into a series of truck robberies that have plagued the interior regions of São Paulo, indicating a targeted effort by law enforcement to combat this type of organized crime.

The operation, referred to as 'Final Route', previously resulted in the arrest of eight individuals and the issuance of 15 search and seizure warrants. Authorities are focused on not only apprehending those involved in these crimes but also on dismantling the infrastructure that enables such illicit activities in Brazil's transport sector, which has seen a rise in truck-related crimes in recent years.