Santa Catarina police make high‑profile arrests and shootings in separate crime incidents

Authorities in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina arrested 29‑year‑old criminal lawyer Gabriela Vieira Serafin in Florianópolis on charges of drug trafficking, association with traffickers and corruption of minors. The capture followed months of evasion after a temporary arrest warrant was issued in April and was part of Operation Quebra de Comando, a police effort to dismantle a local criminal network.

In a separate incident, a 17‑year‑old suspect involved in a knife attack on an app‑based driver was shot dead by the Military Police during an attempted arrest in Navegantes. Police said the teenager pointed a firearm at officers, prompting lethal force. The killing follows a series of violent robberies targeting ride‑share drivers in the Vale do Itajaí region.

Both cases highlight heightened law‑enforcement actions against organized crime and violent offenses in Santa Catarina.