Arrest of PCC leader "Tuta" in Bolivia deals blow to gang's reach

    
• Marcos Roberto de Almeida, alias "Tuta," was detained in Bolivia.
• "Tuta" is the leader of the First Command of the Capital (PCC), the largest gang in South America.
• PCC is expanding its influence in Europe, particularly in Portugal.

Bolivian police arrested Marcos Roberto de Almeida, known as "Tuta," who is considered the leader of the Brazilian gang First Command of the Capital (PCC). According to Bolivian services, CNN reported that the arrest occurred when he attempted to extend the validity of a forged driver's license.

Bolivian police authorities stated that the Brazilian criminal was apprehended using a database containing biometric data of 45 million people. The Brazilian prosecutor's office confirmed that "Tuta" has already been handed over to the Brazilian police. He will be placed in a cell in a high-security prison located in the country's capital.

His arrest could be crucial in weakening the PCC's influence but does not solve the problem of the organization's existence or its presence in Europe.

PCC's threat

PCC is the largest criminal organization in South America. For several years now, it has been expanding its influence in Europe as well. This is particularly visible in Portugal, where more than 1,000 members of this group are already operating. The gang focuses on laundering money from cocaine trafficking.

According to a report by Portuguese security services, PCC may attempt to take control of the ports in Lisbon and Sines. The goal is to streamline the smuggling of cocaine from South America to Europe. This highlights how serious the organization's plans are on the Old Continent.

The arrest of "Tuta" is an important step in the fight against organized crime, but the challenges related to PCC's activities in South America and Europe remain significant for the authorities.