Capture of PCC leader 'Tuta' shakes South America's crime world

• Marcos Roberto de Almeida, alias "Tuta," was detained in Bolivia.
• "Tuta" is the leader of the First Command of the Capital (PCC), the largest gang in South America.
• PCC is expanding its influence in Europe, particularly in Portugal.

Bolivian police arrested Marcos Roberto de Almeida, known as "Tuta." He is considered the leader of the Brazilian gang First Command of the Capital (PCC). Citing Bolivian services, CNN reported that the arrest took place when he attempted to extend the validity of a forged driving licence.

According to Bolivian police authorities, the Brazilian criminal was apprehended because officers used a database containing biometric data of 45 million people. The Brazilian prosecutor's office confirmed that "Tuta" has already been handed over to the Brazilian police. He is to be placed in a cell in a high-security prison located in the country's capital.

His arrest could be crucial in weakening PCC's influence, but it does not resolve the problem of the organisation's existence nor its presence in Europe.

PCC threatens Europe

PCC is the largest criminal organisation in South America. For several years now, it has been expanding its influence in Europe as well. This is particularly evident in Portugal, where more than 1,000 members of this group are already operating. The gang focuses on laundering funds from cocaine trafficking.

According to a report by Portuguese security services, PCC may attempt to take control of the ports in Lisbon and Sines. The goal is to streamline the smuggling of cocaine from South America to Europe. This illustrates the seriousness of the organisation's plans on the Old Continent.

The arrest of "Tuta" is an important step in the fight against organised crime, but the challenges related to PCC's activities in South America and Europe remain a challenge for the services.