Brazilian Adinizio Vinicius Soares Dias Barbosa, 30, known as Panda, was arrested in the United States and pleaded guilty to drug and weapons trafficking charges. He is described by the U.S. Department of Justice as a leadership figure of the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) in the country. According to authorities, he supplied fentanyl and cocaine to a network of criminals operating on the north coast of Massachusetts.
Barbosa was monitored by the FBI and was stopped on July 1st on a highway in South Carolina during an operation that was part of the investigation. After allowing the car to be searched, he attempted to escape on foot, but was ultimately detained on the road median. Ammunition and nine rifles were found inside the vehicle.
In Barbosa's cell phone, authorities found references to the "General Harmony of the United States," indicating alleged connections with other members of the criminal organization. The arrest is part of a larger operation investigating the PCC's activities in American territory.
