Record R$45 Million Gold Seizure in Amazonas as Off-Duty Officers Are Arrested

Overview

• Rocam units responding to an anonymous 190 call about a family held at a Manaus home found 77 gold bars weighing about 72.5–72.6 kg, the largest gold seizure recorded in the state.
• Six suspects were detained, including two military police cabos and a civil police investigator who were off duty, with the officers identified in local reporting as Gilson Luna de Farias, Antônio Temilson de Souza Aguiar, and Fellipe Pinto Ferreira.
• Authorities say the gold was being negotiated by the Venezuelan homeowner when the officers allegedly restrained those present and attempted extortion.
• Seized items included five firearms, 132 rounds, ballistic vests, eight cellphones, cash, an armored vehicle, and a car modified with a false bottom, with part of the gold hidden in a fuel tank.
• The gold and equipment were transferred to the Federal Police as state and federal probes proceed alongside internal disciplinary and corregedoria actions within Amazonas security forces.