Police Carry Out Raids Across Several States as Investigation Examines Links to Criminal Organization.
On Monday, Brazilian authorities launched an operation targeting soccer players and agents over their alleged involvement in a drug and arms trafficking scheme across several states in the country.
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David Correa da Fonseca, a forward for Vasco da Gama, one of the most traditional clubs in the Brazilian Championship, was one of the targets of the police operation, according to the newspaper O Globo.
Agents searched the Rio de Janeiro home of David Correa, better known as DVD, and seized cellphones and documents. They later went to Vasco da Gama’s training center, where they executed a search warrant.
Fullback Hayner, on loan from Santos to Vila Nova in Goias, was also targeted by authorities, who searched his home and locker at the club’s facilities.
Hayner denied being connected to the case and believes the suspicions against him stem from “a childhood friendship with one of those investigated for drug trafficking, who is from the same community where the player grew up, in Espirito Santo.” That neighborhood is also connected “to other soccer players who were targeted in the operation,” Vila Nova said in a statement.
URGENTE – David Corrêa, jogador do Vasco, é alvo de busca e apreensão por suspeita de envolvimento com facção criminosa e com o tráfico de drogas e armas pic.twitter.com/81hPm6WTSC
— SPACE LIBERDADE (@NewsLiberdade) August 31, 2026
The text reads, “Urgent. David Correa, a player for Vasco da Gama, is the subject of a search and capture operation under suspicion of being linked to a criminal organization and drug and arms trafficking.”
The G1 news portal and GloboNews initially reported that Renyer Oliveira, who came through Santos’ youth academy and now plays for Parana club Azuriz, was also among those involved and was even detained for contempt during the proceedings. However, Azuriz said in a statement that Renyer “has no involvement whatsoever in the facts that were reported” and is training normally.
Police are carrying out four arrest warrants and 15 searches at addresses in the states of Espirito Santo, Goias, the Federal District of Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro. The operation is investigating a group allegedly involved in drug and arms trafficking and which apparently has “links to a criminal faction,” the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police said in a statement.
The criminal organization has branches in different Brazilian states. The operation, dubbed “A Tropa,” involved the joint participation of nearly 100 officers from the Civil Police forces of several Brazilian states.
Vasco da Gama, which will play the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals against Independiente Santa Fe of Bogota next week, said it is “cooperating with authorities and awaiting the conclusion of the investigations.”
Vila Nova also made itself available to police and reported that Hayner “continues to carry out his activities normally,” stressing that the player “has always demonstrated professionalism and regularly fulfilled his sporting obligations.”
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
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