Brazilian police on Friday arrested one of the country's most-wanted drug lords and prevented the criminal gang he ruled from carrying out a major operation to take over a "favela" in the northern zone of the capital city.

 

Marcelo Soares de Medeiros, nicknamed Marcelo PQD, was planning to invade the Morro do Dende neighborhood and kill the drug lord that currently coordinates traffic there.

 

Six other gang members were also arrested, including former Army parachutists and an employee of a state deputy.

 

The gang was at a "base" they secretly held in the slum, waiting for other members to arrive. They were preparing to initiate the operation when the police laid siege to the house, whose owner also participated in the plan.

 

Following negotiations, which relied on the help of relatives of the criminals, the seven gangsters surrendered. Five rifles and four pistols were recovered from the house.

 

Police investigations started three months ago. According to the Specialized Police Department, the group arrested with PQD received military training and are known as "kamikazes" for their activities in the front line of confrontations with other gangs.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2007)