A Brazilian businessman with ties to one of the country’s most powerful criminal organizations has been shot dead at São Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport. Antônio Vinicius Gritzbach, who had recently entered into a plea agreement to provide information about the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), was killed in a brazen attack outside the airport terminal.
Gritzbach, a former member of the PCC, had been collaborating with local prosecutors, agreeing to share details about how he helped the gang launder millions of dollars. His cooperation reportedly led to death threats from the PCC, which is notorious for its violent tactics and extensive reach across Brazil and beyond.
The shooting occurred as two men, wearing hooded jackets, exited a car near the airport terminal. Security camera footage captured the moment the assailants opened fire with submachine guns. Gritzbach, who was carrying a bag at the time, dropped it and attempted to flee, but was shot multiple times and died at the scene. Three others were injured in the attack, though their conditions have not been disclosed.
The PCC, one of Brazil’s most feared and influential criminal groups, was founded in the early 1990s and has since become a significant force in international drug trafficking, particularly cocaine. According to reports, the gang has expanded its operations well beyond Latin America, with a notable presence in Europe. A report from Portuguese security services last year indicated that the PCC had up to 1,000 associates in Lisbon alone.
Gritzbach, a cryptocurrency expert, was considered an integral figure in the PCC’s money-laundering activities. Under the terms of his plea bargain with São Paulo prosecutors, he was expected to provide information that would help authorities locate other PCC members and deliver crucial documents. In exchange, Gritzbach was promised a judicial pardon and a reduction in his sentence for his involvement in money laundering.
The PCC is estimated to generate nearly $1 billion annually from international cocaine trafficking, according to São Paulo’s organized crime taskforce. Gritzbach’s killing highlights the dangers faced by individuals attempting to cooperate with authorities in the fight against organized crime, particularly when dealing with a group as powerful and ruthless as the PCC.
Following the attack, police quickly responded by deploying officers to the airport and the surrounding area. Investigations are ongoing, but the murder underscores the continued threat posed by the PCC in Brazil and beyond.
