Brazilian authorities launch search for drug kingpin after top judge overturns his release just hours after he was freed from prison
Police in Sao Paulo have launched a hunt for the purported leader of one of Brazil's biggest criminal organizations who went on the run after being freed from prison the previous day on a judge's order that was revoked a few hours later.
André Oliveira Macedo, 43, the alleged chief of the Primeiro Comando da Capital crime gang, was being held following his arrest in September 2019 on charges of organizing large shipments of cocaine to Europe.
Marco Aurélio Mello, one of 11 justices on Brazil's Supreme Court, granted a habeas corpus request Saturday that allowed Macedo to leave a Sao Paulo prison on the ground his detention awaiting trial had exceeded the time allowed by law.
André Oliveira, one of the alleged leaders of the Primeiro Comando da Capital, Brazil's biggest criminal organization, was freed from jail Saturday before his released was rescinded by the top Supreme Court judge
Hours later, the president of the high court, Luiz Fux, suspended the decision and ordered the immediate return of Macedo to prison.
Investigators close to the case told Brazilian news outlet UOL that he reportedly drove to the Paraná town of Maringá and boarded a private plane for Paraguay, where the criminal organization also has a presence.
Authorities provided no details on the search for Macedo.
The PCC is one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Brazil.
Sao Paulo state Gov. Joao Doria criticized the order releasing Macedo, calling it 'an unacceptable condescension to criminals'.
Supreme Court Justice Marco Aurélio Mello had his decision to release André Oliveira from prison overturned by the top court president, Luiz Fux
During his arrest at mansion in the Rio de Janeiro southern coastal city of Angra dos Reis, authorities seized two speedboats and a helicopter. Supreme Court said Oliveira also owned a fleet of 44 boats.
Saõ Paulo Governor Joao Doria also criticized the order releasing Oliveira, calling it 'an unacceptable condescension to criminals'.
'We have to put that criminal back behind bars,' Doria said. 'Jail is the place for bandits.'
Oliveira was being held following his arrest in September 2019 and was charged with organizing large shipments of cocaine from the port of Santos to Europe.
During his arrest at mansion in the Rio de Janeiro southern coastal city of Angra dos Reis, authorities seized two speedboats and a helicopter.
Supreme Court said Oliveira also owned a fleet of 44 boats.
The Primeiro Comando da Capital was founded in 1993 in Saõ Paulo inside the Taubauté prison.
The criminal syndicate reportedly has more than 30,000 members spread throughout Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela and Paraguay.