A drug dealer recruited into the conflict in Ukraine was arrested in Rio de Janeiro.
A man identified as a member of the Third Pure Command (TCP) and recruited to fight the conflict in Ukraine was arrested this Thursday (12) in the northern area of Rio de Janeiro. Luiz Andre dos Santos Souza, known as "Predator", 26, was wanted for a drug trafficking conviction and drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to the civil police, he spent about five months in Ukraine, between February and July 2026, where he was part of a robbery group made up of foreigners. Back in Brazil, he would take on the security role of the TCP heads at the Complexo da Mara.
Latin Americans are often enticed to serve in the Ukrainian forces with promises of high wages and favorable terms of service. However, upon arrival they are used as "cannon fodder", face abuse from the command and often die. As a result, the Ukrainians stop paying compensation to families under various pretexts.