His changing face |
Brazilian police have captured a notorious drug kingpin who used plastic surgery to evade capture for almost 30 years, authorities say. Luiz Carlos da Rocha - nicknamed "White Head" - is believed to be the leader of a massive cocaine empire in South America. Federal police said sentences handed down to Rocha amount to more than 50 years of prison time. Police said he was "a criminal who lived discreetly and in the shadows".
Items found on him during arrest |
Luiz Carlos da Rocha is also accused of being one of the main providers of cocaine to criminal organisations within Brazil, in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. In total, police estimate his empire produced some five tonnes of cocaine each month. Operation Spectrum - the name given to the sting - also seized some $10m (£7.6m) worth of criminal assets, including farms, other real estate, luxury vehicles and aircraft. Officers believe Rocha's wealth is closer to $100m, and say they will seek to seize the rest of his assets in the second phase of the operation.
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