PARAMARIBO, Suriname–Two Brazilian men on the run from Surinamese and French Guiana authorities for multiple murders, has been arrested in Macapa, the capital of the northern Brazilian state Amapa. Ferreira Manoel Moura (25) a gang leader who goes by the nickname “Manoelzinho” was arrested together with Ronaldo Silva Lima, also known as “O Brabo”.
They have meanwhile confessed to their involvement in the killings of (French soldiers) Sebastien Pissot and Stephane Moralia” in French Guiana, but are also held responsible for several robberies and at least 10 other killings in Suriname. A press release from Macapa military police didn’t clarify if they also confessed to those crimes.
Suriname and French Guiana authorities earlier this month mounted a large scale joint operation, to curb the increase in crime around the border between the two countries. The gold rich hinterlands of Suriname and French Guyana have over the past years prompted massive economic activity. Thousands of Brazilians operate in this area, some of them, unfortunately as gangs who resort to deadly violence.
In January, at least five people were killed during a shootout between rival gangs, just hours ahead of a visit by then president Nicolas Sarkozy. Earlier this month, close to sixty illegal Brazilians suspected of cross border criminal activities were arrested during the joint Suriname/French Guiana military operations. Mouro, the prime target of the operations evaded capture.
That was till Saturday. Acting on a tip-off, police went to a Macapa hotel where the suspects were said to be staying and found them in a nearby red taxi, a police statement said. Moura was found with $5,000 cash, a Glock 9 mm handgun and a knife, while Lima carried $275 dollars and a Glock 9 mm handgun.
Also in the vehicle was a woman identified as Marilene Santos Fonseca, who police said accompanied the two suspects during their escape from French Guiana, located on Brazil’s far north-eastern border.
They have meanwhile confessed to their involvement in the killings of (French soldiers) Sebastien Pissot and Stephane Moralia” in French Guiana, but are also held responsible for several robberies and at least 10 other killings in Suriname. A press release from Macapa military police didn’t clarify if they also confessed to those crimes.
Suriname and French Guiana authorities earlier this month mounted a large scale joint operation, to curb the increase in crime around the border between the two countries. The gold rich hinterlands of Suriname and French Guyana have over the past years prompted massive economic activity. Thousands of Brazilians operate in this area, some of them, unfortunately as gangs who resort to deadly violence.
In January, at least five people were killed during a shootout between rival gangs, just hours ahead of a visit by then president Nicolas Sarkozy. Earlier this month, close to sixty illegal Brazilians suspected of cross border criminal activities were arrested during the joint Suriname/French Guiana military operations. Mouro, the prime target of the operations evaded capture.
That was till Saturday. Acting on a tip-off, police went to a Macapa hotel where the suspects were said to be staying and found them in a nearby red taxi, a police statement said. Moura was found with $5,000 cash, a Glock 9 mm handgun and a knife, while Lima carried $275 dollars and a Glock 9 mm handgun.
Also in the vehicle was a woman identified as Marilene Santos Fonseca, who police said accompanied the two suspects during their escape from French Guiana, located on Brazil’s far north-eastern border.