Brazil court upholds 16-year sentence for dentist in drug trafficking scheme

The Superior Court of Justice (STJ) in Brazil has upheld a 16-year and eight-month prison sentence for dentist Mara Kenia Dier Lucas. The court ruled that Lucas was responsible for managing financial resources for a criminal organization involved in interstate drug trafficking.

Investigated as part of Operation Escamotes by the Federal Police, Lucas was found to have facilitated criminal operations by hiring vehicles, performing bank transfers, and paying for expenses such as fuel, car rentals, and legal fees. She is married to Flávio Henrique Lucas, a leader of the group who received the same sentence.

Defense attorneys attempted to reduce the sentence by arguing that the court improperly used the volume of seized narcotics, exceeding 148 kilograms, to aggravate the punishment. They also contested the fines and the specific charges related to financing the trafficking operations.