São Paulo police officer arrested in kidnapping investigation

A civil police officer, Milton Massaru Nakayama (known as ‘Japa’), was arrested on Saturday in São Paulo for his alleged involvement in a kidnapping that occurred in the Artur Alvim neighborhood on August 12.

Investigations suggest Nakayama, who is stationed at the 65th Police District, provided support to a group led by fellow officer Rafael Juergen Schult. The group is accused of conducting kidnappings, extortions, and assaults using a vehicle equipped with lights and sirens to simulate an unmarked police cruiser. The kidnapping victim, a 34-year-old man, was reportedly beaten and forced into the trunk of the vehicle; he remains missing.

The motive for the crime is linked to a cocaine negotiation valued at approximately R$ 1 million, potentially involving members of the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC). During searches at Nakayama’s residence, authorities seized weapons with filed-off serial numbers, ammunition, and a red Corsa equipped with police-style emergency lights. The Internal Affairs department is currently investigating the group's activities and the use of these simulated police vehicles.