A three-story mansion with a terrace with a privileged view of the Rio de Janeiro waterfront, allegedly owned by one of the leaders of the drug trade in this Brazilian city, began to be demolished this Wednesday in the Rocinha favela, the largest in the city and one of the largest in Brazil. The building, which attracted attention for its size and location, was built in secret and began to be demolished as part of the new stance of municipal authorities and prosecutors towards the financial power of organized crime.
According to the Rio authorities, the mansion belongs to drug dealer John (his name is that, not John, as is usually written) Wallace da Silva Viana, known in the criminal world as Johnny Bravo. John is one of the leaders of a dangerous criminal group that controls drug trafficking in Rocinha, one of the main sources of profit for the organization.
In total, the building has an area of more than 600 square meters and, above all, a huge terrace from which there is a breathtaking view of the beach of San Conrado, very popular among the famous and rich. Due to the high risk of the site, the city authorities demolish the mansion, guarded by heavily armed military police and agents of the municipal civil guard.
Last month, another mansion also attributed to a drug ring leader was demolished. These buildings, in addition to serving as temporary luxury hideouts for drug ring leaders, are also used as a form of money laundering as they are later sold by criminals who thus make the proceeds of the sale “legal.” .
Author: Domingos Grilo Serrinha This correspondent in Brazil
Source: CM Jornal
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