A kidnapping in Florianópolis in connection with the loss of the victim’s cryptocurrencies drew attention to the violence perpetrated by the criminals, who even shot a police officer on the spot.
In recent years, several cases of kidnapping of cryptocurrency investors have occurred across Brazil, mainly in situations where there may be scams against investors.
Seeking revenge, aggrieved investors resorted to intimidating the scammers to get their investments back. In 2019, for example, the mother and ex-sister-in-law of the ‘king of bitcoin’ were allegedly kidnapped, tied up and threatened with death after the coup of the Bitcoin Banco Group was declared.
That year, a Unick leader was murdered in Curitiba, although police at the time confirmed no connection between the death and the victim’s promoting the company that ran a pyramid scheme.
After losing cryptocurrencies, victims kidnap Brazilian in Florianópolis
A crime in the early hours of last Sunday (3), which took place in Florianópolis, caught the attention of the cryptocurrency community.
It all happened when the victim arrived at a rented house, when he was accosted by four heavily armed men in a red Voyage car. The address was on Rua dos Arenques, in Jurerê Internacional.
During the escape of the criminals with the victim, several garrisons of the military police of Santa Catarina were approached. At this point, a certain start was made with the criminals, who fled via SC-401.
Police officers from the Military Road Police saw the vehicle at the scene and tried to prevent the criminals from escaping, when a firefight started.
The victim is from Canoas (RS) and was wanted by the kidnappers after losing their cryptocurrencies. It is unclear whether it was a local pyramid scheme and the names of those involved have not been released by authorities.
Criminals were heavily armed and had the police shot
While switching shots, the criminals hit the leg of a military police officer, who was taken to a hospital, underwent minor surgery and is not at risk.
With police resistance, three of the vehicle’s four occupants fled on foot to a mangrove swamp in Itacorubi, while the driver of the car fled alone to the center of Florianópolis.
The victim took the opportunity and threw himself from the vehicle, eventually freeing himself from the criminals.
There was another gunfight in the mangroves, but the police were unable to arrest any of the heavily armed criminals.
The driver of the fleeing vehicle was captured by officers from the Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE) and a grenade launcher, bearing the Flamengo symbol, was found in his possession. The driver of the criminals was arrested on the spot.
The search for the suspects continues with specialized agents of the Santa Catarina PM.
Source: Live Coins
John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.
