- He funneled almost 43,000 weapons to gangs in Brazil
ARGENTINA – A fugitive considered the biggest arms trafficker in Latin America has been arrested in his native Argentina by Interpol after more than a month on the run.
Diego Dirísio and his wife Julieta Nardi, a native of Paraguay and model in the 1990s, were taken into custody during an operation in the central province of Cordoba, according to Brazilian news outlet G1.
Prior to Their Arrest
The couple have been on the run since December after they avoided being captured by authorities at their home in Paraguay, where they are wanted by authorities.
Interpol learned of Dirísio’s and Nardi’s location after they received an anonymous tip.
Accusations Against Dirisio
Paraguayan and Brazilian authorities accuse Dirísio of utilizing his Paraguay-based business, International Auto Supply, to purchase $242 million worth of weapons and ammunitions from companies in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia and Turkey.
Guns, rifles, machines guns and ammunition were shipped to Paraguay and then funneled to some of Brazil’s most powerful criminal organizations.
Allegations Against Nardi
Nardi is accused of selling at least 25,000 weapons to Brazilian gangs.
Flávio Albergaria, the chief of the Federal Police department in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia, told G1 that the apprehension was the product of ‘intense investigative efforts and the fluid exchange of information with the Brazilian and Argentine police.’
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How he Became a Target in Brazil
Dirísio became came a target of Brazilian authorities in November 2020 when a man was caught transporting two rifles and 23 pistols during the search of a bus.
Although each serial number had been deleted from the firearms, Federal Police agents were able to track their origin.
Investigations Reveal More
Investigators found Dirísio’s company purchased 7,720 guns from Croatia, 2,056 rifles were purchased from the Czech Republic from November 2019 to December 2022,
The trans-Atlantic weapons smuggler also bought an 5,000 rifles, pistols and revolvers from Turkey and an additional 1,200 pistols purchased from a factory in Slovenia.
The weapons were then sold to Brazilian criminal factions, Primeiro Comando da Capital and Comando Vermelho.
Most of the weapons were destined to members in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
‘He is the owner of the company, who coordinates all the company’s actions,’ Albergaria said.
‘He made direct arrangements for the sale and resale with the knowledge that these weapons should be scrapped and destined for organized crime.
‘This was proven in the investigation and this was the biggest difficulty in starting the operation.’
What Happens Next?
Dirísio and Nardi are facing extradition to Paraguay.
