Rio police seize R$450 k sports memorabilia cache, arrest three in fraud sting

Civil police in Rio de Janeiro arrested two men and a teenage accomplice during a sting operation at a shopping centre in Barra da Tijuca. The suspects were attempting to sell rare sports memorabilia that they had obtained through an electronic credit‑card fraud scheme targeting a specialised memorabilia platform.

The operation recovered most of an estimated R$450 000 collection, including Brazil national‑team shirts autographed from the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, a commemorative Pelé shirt, NBA‑signed basketballs, cards and posters. Some items are valued over R$50 000 each and had been shipped to addresses in Salvador.

The platform had reported a series of fraudulent purchases, prompting police to arrange a fake negotiation that led to the arrests. The two adult men were charged with receiving stolen goods, and the teenager faces an analogous juvenile offence. Investigations continue to identify the masterminds behind the fraud and locate any remaining items.