PCC Kingpin Captured in Bolivia: Joint Operation Nets Fugitive Drug Lord

Brazilian Police Apprehend Notorious PCC Leader in Bolivia Marcos Roberto de Almeida, known as "Tuta," a high-ranking member of the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) drug cartel, was apprehended in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, on May 16, 2025. The arrest, a significant blow to the PCC, was the result of a joint operation between Brazilian and Bolivian authorities. Tuta, who had been a fugitive for five years, was found attempting to renew his identification documents under a false name. Brazilian Federal Police had been tracking Tuta for some time, and the arrest was made possible by information shared with Bolivian authorities. "This false name he used was already known to us," stated a Brazilian Federal Police official in an interview included in the video. "We immediately sent this information to our colleagues in Interpol Bolivia." The video also highlights Tuta's history of involvement in drug trafficking, and his role as a leader within the PCC, even taking over temporarily when Marcola was moved to a federal prison. The arrest has raised concerns about the presence of other PCC leaders in Bolivia and the country's role as a transit point for drug trafficking. Tuta's arrest is a significant development in the ongoing fight against organized crime in South America. The cooperation between Brazil and Bolivia demonstrates the importance of international collaboration in tackling transnational criminal networks.