A Brazilian businessman linked to one of the nation’s most influential criminal organizations was fatally shot at Guarulhos Airport in São Paulo.
Antônio Vinicius Gritzbach has reportedly reached a plea agreement with local prosecutors, offering to share insights regarding the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), also known as the First Capital Command.
Local media reports indicate that he received death threats from the gang as a consequence of his actions.
In the wake of the attack, three additional individuals sustained injuries, as evidenced by footage circulating online that captures the aftermath. Authorities confirmed that officers were dispatched to the airport and its vicinity.
Security cameras captured the alarming moment when two hooded men emerged from a vehicle armed with sub-machine guns and opened fire outside the airport terminal.
Gritzbach, previously affiliated with the PCC, abandoned his bag and attempted to flee but was shot multiple times and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
A cryptocurrency expert, Gritzbach was informing officials about his role in assisting the group with laundering millions of dollars.
Brazilian media reports indicate that he was previously viewed as a pivotal figure within the gang’s operations.
In a significant development, Gritzbach has committed to assisting investigators in identifying additional members and providing relevant documents as part of his plea agreement.
Reports indicate that prosecutors in São Paulo have proposed a judicial pardon and a sentence reduction for Gritzbach in connection with his money laundering charges, contingent upon a financial arrangement.
Established in the early 1990s, the PCC has emerged as one of Brazil‘s most notorious drug trafficking organizations. The organization’s membership extends beyond the borders of Latin America.
A report released last year by security services in Portugal indicated that the group had approximately 1,000 associates in Lisbon, the capital of the European nation.
In 2023, São Paulo’s organized crime task force estimated that the PCC generates nearly $1 billion (£773,000) through international cocaine trafficking.
