When they looked at the warehouse and machinery at a factory in Santa Bárbara de Oeste, inside São Paulo, the operation impressed federal police officers because of the precision with which weapon parts were produced there. When they investigated more deeply the gang that was operating there, they found that continuous production, especially of rifles, was only possible due to movements made by specialist delivery men, on short trips, at chosen times, fractions and at agreed upon points.
Without this logistics network, the assembly line would not flow. For this reason, the Federal Police (PF) mapped the gang and was able to dismantle it, according to reports obtained by the site. Capitals.
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Conditional closure.
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The projects were later implemented in a factory within the city of São Paulo
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The weapons are designed in 3D
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Weapons were assembled inside the SP
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Weapons were transferred to factions in Rio and the northeast
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The parts were manufactured using factory machines that were supposed to produce aviation parts
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The cost of the weapons ranges between R$8,000 and R$15,000
Reproduction/PF8 out of 10Art Alfredo Henrique / Metropolis 9 out of 10Reproducibility/PF10 out of 10Reproduction/Fn
Logistics corridor
The investigation identified a clear corridor of work, starting in Santa Bárbara de Oeste (the factory), and from there the “mules” moved to Piracicaba and Limera (tests and partner workshops). From there, they went to Somare and Americana (deposit and final assembly), finally coordinating, from Campinas, to send the illegal arsenals, from the interior of São Paulo, to buyers in Rio de Janeiro, and eventually to Goiás. The gang’s clients included criminal factions, including the Comando Vermelho (CV).
Methods:
- Santa Barbara d’Oeste to Piracicaba and Limeira — Sending parts for additional manufacturing and fit testing of smaller parts, as well as fine adjustments.
- Santa Barbara d’Oeste to Americana (deposit) – Final assembly and inventory; Location used as a “cache” to concentrate batches before shipping.
- American to Rio de Janeiro -Interstate shipments, parts are usually disassembled and packed to conceal contents.
- Santa Barbara d’Oeste to Somare and Campinas – Input delivery, logistical coordination and support points.
- Somare to Goiás (when there was demand) – Occasional shipments, perhaps to customers outside the main route.
Each department had a well-defined logistical purpose: inputs, final manufacturing, assembly, warehousing, and export to the buyer.
Movements between cities in the interior of São Paulo until weapons are sent to other states appear frequently in conversations between criminals – with instructions, delivery confirmations and payment notes – as well as in movements recorded by surveillance and vehicle supply checks.
Times and method
The most sensitive movements occurred between 11pm and 5am. The reason, according to the National Front, was practical: during these hours, there is less traffic, less chance of police arriving, and thus greater potential for efficiency through covert deliveries.
One federal police officer who monitored the gang in São Paulo said: “The factory was operating in a warehouse, but the operation actually took place in their cars.”
Retail
Fragmentation was an essential part of the gang’s logistical method. In the letters collected by forensics, one member advises: “Just take the four today. I will send the rest tomorrow with the other man.”
The goal, according to the investigation, was to prevent a single vehicle from carrying enough components to identify a complete weapon upon inspection. By dividing the lottery into several trips and using different drivers, the gang “fractionated” the risks.
“Technical Mules”
The people taking these roads were not random drivers. They were what the National Front called tech mules. According to the investigation, they knew how to label the parts, properly package them, divide the shipments and deliver them to safe points.
Furthermore, the couriers knew the components (bolt, barrel, lock, gun assembly); They knew how to hide them in tool boxes or technical equipment; They knew secret delivery points and were able to follow technical instructions received via letters.
The National Front described its role as essential. Without this practical knowledge, it would not be possible to break down and trade parts of military weapons.
Logistics, a weak and valuable link
The gang’s logistics were key to the success of the criminal operation, allowing the mass production, partial shipment and interstate delivery of illegal arsenals.
At the same time, it was also the thread that guided the investigators: transit movements, letters, and payments revealed suspicious deposits, identified the drivers, and made it possible to solve the mystery that led to the arrests and seizures.
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