Brazilian police arrest fugitive linked to vehicle theft ring in Rio

The Rio de Janeiro Civil Police, together with the Minas Gerais Civil Police and the federal Projeto Captura task force, captured Mario Sergio Junqueira, a 40‑year‑old fugitive who had been using the false name Diogo Matarazzo. Junqueira was wanted on multiple charges in Minas Gerais and São Paulo, including robbery, drug trafficking, vehicle theft, receipt of stolen vehicles, illegal firearm possession, document fraud and resistance to police. He coordinated the ordering of stolen vehicles that were altered and resold, contributing to a surge in vehicle theft in the Poços de Caldas region. After fleeing a prison in Araraquara in 2022, he moved to Rio, where he continued his illicit activities and maintained a formal business under the false identity. Authorities consider him extremely dangerous and linked to a criminal faction. The operation resulted in his arrest in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio on June 9, 2026.