When federal officers saw the factory’s warehouses and machinery in Santa Barbara d’Oeste, inland in São Paulo, they were impressed by the precision of the gun parts made there. Further investigation into the gangs that operated there revealed that uninterrupted production, primarily of rifles, was only possible by specialized delivery personnel moving in short, fixed times, in installments, and to agreed upon locations.
Without this logistics network, the assembly line would not flow. This is why the Federal Police (PF) mapped the gang and were able to dismantle it, according to a report obtained by . big city.
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The project was later implemented in a factory in the interior of São Paulo.
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Weapons are designed in 3D
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The weapon was assembled within SP
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Weapons were given to factions in Rio and the Northeast
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The parts were made on machines in a factory designed to make aerospace parts.
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Weapon prices range from R$8,000 to R$15,000
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logistics corridor
The investigation identified a clear path of action, starting from Santa Barbara d’Oeste (factory), where the “mules” moved to Piracicaba and Limeira (testing and partner workshops). From there they headed to Sumare and Americana (deposit and final assembly), and eventually coordinated the dispatch of illegal armories from Campinas to the interior of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and finally to buyers in Goiás. Among the gang’s clients were criminal factions, including the Commando Vermelho (CV).
root:
- From Santa Barbara d’Oeste to Piracicaba and Limeira — In addition to fine-tuning, we send parts for additional machining and small part fit testing.
- Americana from Santa Barbara d’Oeste (deposit) — Final assembly and inventory; a location used as a “bunker” to concentrate batches before shipping.
- From America to Rio de Janeiro — Interstate transportation. Usually, the parts are disassembled and packaged so that the contents cannot be seen.
- From Santa Barbara d’Oeste to Sumare and Campinas — Input delivery, logistics coordination and support points.
- From Sumare to Goias (if there is demand) — May be shipped irregularly to customers outside of primary routes.
Each section had a clearly defined logistics purpose, including input, final processing, assembly, storage, and export to the buyer.
The intercity movement of weapons in São Paulo’s interior before being sent to other states recurs in conversations between criminals (instructions, delivery confirmations, payment advices, etc.) and in movements recorded by surveillance and vehicle supply inspections.
time and method
The most sensitive movements occurred between 11pm and 5am. According to PF, the reason for this is pragmatic: during these hours there is less traffic and police are less likely to approach, resulting in more efficiency with discreet deliveries.
One of the federal police officers monitoring the gang in São Paulo said in a report that “the factory was operating in a warehouse, but in reality it was carried out in cars.”
fragmentation
A key part of the gang’s logistics method was segregation. In messages collected by forensic scientists, one member advised: “Please only take four today. I will send the rest tomorrow with another man.”
The purpose, according to the investigation, was to prevent a single vehicle from carrying enough parts to exhibit the characteristics of a complete weapon during inspection. Lot “fragmented” the risk by splitting it into multiple trips and using different drivers.
“Technical Mule”
The people who took these routes were not casual drivers. They were what PF called technical mules. According to the study, they knew how to distinguish between parts, pack them correctly, and divide the shipment to a safe location.
Additionally, the courier recognized the components (bolt, barrel, lock, pistol kit). They knew how to hide it in toolboxes and technology kits. They knew discreet delivery points and were able to follow technical instructions received via message.
The PF described their role as essential. Without this practical knowledge, the fragmentation and distribution of war weapon parts would be impossible.
Logistics, a weak and valuable link
Gang logistics were key to the success of criminal operations, allowing for the mass production, piecemeal transportation, and interstate delivery of illegal weapons.
At the same time, it was also a guiding thread for investigators. Intersecting movements, messages and payments revealed suspicious deposits, making it possible to identify the driver and piece together the puzzle that led to his arrest and seizure.
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