Natal police rescue woman from criminal execution attempt

Security forces in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, rescued a woman from a criminal faction on Sunday, August 23, as she was being transported via boat on the Potengi River. The victim was reportedly being taken to a “tribunal do crime” to be executed, with suspects allegedly accusing her of being an informant.

The operation was triggered by a report of a woman being held against her will on a vessel. The Integrated Air Operations Coordination (Ciopaer) deployed the Potiguar 01 helicopter, which located the boat near the Passo da Pátria community. As the aircraft monitored the vessel, the suspects changed course and returned to their point of origin, where they were intercepted by the 1st Military Police Battalion and the Shock Battalion.

Authorities arrested several suspects, some of whom had prior records for robbery and drug trafficking. Following the rescue, the state has placed the woman under the protection and assistance of the state network to address her vulnerability. The investigation into the motives and specific responsibilities of those detained is ongoing.