Dundi, one of Rio’s most sought after drug traffickers, arrested

SÃO PAOLO, Brazil—Rio de Janeiro drug trafficker José Carlos da Silva, a.k.a. Dundi, was arrested by Brazilian military police last night after being recognized by officers in the city's Bananal neighborhood, according to G1, the website of the Brazilian news station Globo News.

Dundi has been on the run from the Instituto Penal Cândido Mendes (Cândido Mendes Penal Institution) in downtown Rio since December 2010. Brazilian news website UOL reported that he had been hiding out in Maricá, a city about an hour away from the state's capital.

Read More: Brazil: The battle for Rio de Janeiro

A member of the criminal organization Amigos dos Amigos (ADA), Dundi was held responsible for the January 2010 invasion of the Buraco do Boi favela in Rio, where he took control of the region's drug trafficking, according to Band.com.br. As a result, three military police officers were killed.

Band.com.br also reported that Dundi is accused of the kidnapping of São Gonçalo's sports secretary Joaquim de Oliveira, also the owner of Universidade Salgado de Oliveira.

Help keep The World going strong!

The article you just read is free because dedicated readers and listeners like you chose to support our nonprofit newsroom. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you hear the latest in international, human-centered reporting every weekday. But our work would not be possible without you. We need your help.

Make a gift today to help us reach our $25,000 goal and keep The World going strong. Every gift will get us one step closer.