Brazilian authorities arrest two 'crooked' Military Police officers who were 'caught on surveillance footage kidnapping a businessman before extorting a $4,000 ransom from the victim's girlfriend' Luiz Otávio Couto Amaral do Carmo Coutinho and Ernani Sant'Ana Reis da Silva were arrested Monday morning by authorities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The pair were cops assigned to a Rio de Janeiro Military Police department and allegedly formed part of a group that kidnapped and extorted local merchants A third person, unknown if he is cop, is also being sought for his role with the criminal group which consists of seven people Do Carmo Coutinho and da Silva participated in the May 16 kidnapping of local merchant, José Augusto dos Santos Dos Santos was freed after his girlfriend paid a ransom of almost $4,000 and they were told not to report the crime to the police Their families were constantly contacted by the criminal group and threatened if they pressed ahead with the filing of a police report The kidnappers reportedly also targeted local drug traffickers
By Adry Torres For Dailymail.com
Published: 19:49 BST, 18 June 2019 | Updated: 20:15 BST, 18 June 2019
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Brazilian authorities arrested a pair of rogue cops who allegedly formed part of a gang that kidnapped and extorted local businessmen and even drug traffickers.
Luiz Otávio Couto Amaral do Carmo Coutinho and Ernani Sant'Ana Reis da Silva, who were both assigned to a local Rio de Janeiro Military Police department, were arrested Monday during an operation led by the Civil Police.
Officials also said that a third man is being sought for his connections to the gang. It is unknown if he too is a member of the police force.
