A notorious female gang leader that recruited for a violent drug faction has been arrested after taunting authorities with videos of herself wielding a rifle.
Cabo Frio, a coastal city in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, served as the hideout for the fugitive, named as 24-year-old Bianca Duarte Franco, who was apprehended on 2nd May.
The arrest followed the circulation of videos showing her armed with a rifle in Rio's favelas, which drew significant attention and led to intensified efforts by law enforcement to locate her.
Bianca Duarte Franco, 24, poses in undated photo. She was arrested in Cabo Frio, Brazil. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)
The woman, originally from Para, had been operating as a high-ranking member within the Comando Vermelho, one of Brazil's most powerful criminal organisations.
Her role involved recruiting new members and managing human resources for the faction, earning her the moniker "HR of Crime."
Bianca Duarte Franco, 24, poses in an undated photo. She was arrested in Cabo Frio, Brazil. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX) |
Authorities discovered that she had fled to Cabo Frio, a city known for its white-sand beaches and turquoise waters, located approximately 100 miles from Rio de Janeiro.
Picture shows Bianca Duarte Franco, 24, arrested, undated. She was arrested in Cabo Frio, Brazil. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)
The arrest was carried out by the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro, who tracked her down to a residence in the central area of Cabo Frio.
She was found in possession of a firearm and other materials related to her criminal activities.