A Brazilian federal highway police officer, facing serious criminal charges including weapons smuggling and money laundering, was recently promoted and received a salary increase, according to court documents.
The officer, Vagner Keith de Freitas, was indicted as part of a major 2023 police operation targeting an alleged arms and drug trafficking network. Authorities claim the ring moved over 110 million reais (approximately $20 million) since 2018, sourcing weapons from Paraguay and funneling them to criminal groups.
Freitas faces charges of participating in a criminal organization, illegal arms dealing, and money laundering. He remains on active duty and awaiting trial. In January, he was promoted based on “satisfactory performance” over the previous year, official records show.
Brazil’s Federal Highway Police confirmed an internal disciplinary process is underway but declined to detail it, citing confidentiality. The agency noted no court order has been issued to remove Freitas from his post.
His attorney argued the allegations are “distorted” and “untrue,” asserting his client never engaged in criminal activity or belonged to any criminal group. The lawyer declined to elaborate further.
Investigators allege Freitas made frequent trips to Paraguay, obtaining weapons from two suppliers in Guairá. One was sentenced in 2024 for supplying arms to a paramilitary group. Freitas reportedly sold these weapons to a Brazilian gunsmith, Sérgio Pacheco, whose wife owned a shooting club. Pacheco is accused of acting as a middleman for criminal organizations.
Text messages between the two allegedly show discussions about procuring pistols and rifles for clients. In one exchange, Freitas offered a rifle at $10,000, receiving a pistol as commission for every two rifles sold.
Authorities say the weapons reached suspected drug traffickers in Paraíba state. Freitas allegedly received deposits totaling 90,000 reais (about $16,300) from individuals linked to criminal groups, including an associate of the Nova Okaida network.
Pacheco’s lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.
The investigation revealed Freitas handled over 10.7 million reais ($1.9 million) in bank transactions from 2018 to 2023—roughly 13 times his declared salary. His wife, Lígia Mariano Bachitchi, who has no formal employment, allegedly managed accounts that paid suppliers and received weapon payments, while concealing the source of her husband’s money.
Rafael Alcadipani, a researcher at Brazil’s Getulio Vargas Foundation, emphasized the need for faster disciplinary procedures in such cases. He noted highway police forces face significant corruption risks due to the volume of illegal goods moving through their jurisdictions, underscoring the importance of an effective internal affairs department.