Trains with soybean cargo are looted on their way to Port of Santos

Trains carrying tonnes of cargo are being looted on their way to the Port of Santos – the largest in Brazil. Dozens of people who are part of the criminal group break into the wagons and steal their goods, especially soybeans, which are then resold.

The investigations began after Rumo, Brazil’s largest train logistics company, filed a complaint. Rumo claims that only 0.16% of the railway network it manages is in the region known as Baixada Santista. However, the zone where the port is located housed 45% of the company’s train attacks in January.

The attacks are often violent and threaten the lives of those working on the railways. The gang is organized like a food chain, with a nucleus involved in the cargo subtraction, people involved in its storage, and another core that fake documents and sell the goods as if they were legal.

Not all attacks happen with the train in motion. In fact, most of the time, criminals interrupt the transport. With the train brought to a standstill, a group of locals lured into the gang show up coming from nearby communities with bags of raffia and begins to fill them with soybeans.

Investigators try to isolate cases of starvation theft, which is when a person steals out of necessity.

Two companies caught in the images belong to João Estanislau, known as the “king of soybeans.” According to the investigations, he is the head of the scheme that affects more than the railway companies.

What does the involved say: 

The National Association of Railway Transporters, which Rumo is part of, said in a statement that it trusts that the authorities responsible for public safety will continue to take the measures necessary to maintain the integrity of operations.

João Estanislau, the ‘King of Soybeans,’ responds freely to two lawsuits against him for receiving stolen cargo. In a note, the defense lawyers said that he is a reputable businessman who will prove his total innocence in the respective criminal actions brought by the Public Ministry.

Source: G1 – Fantástico

To read the original news report, click on: https://g1.globo.com/fantastico/noticia/2023/04/09/trens-que-carregam-toneladas-de-soja-sao-saqueados-a-caminho-do-porto-de-santos-acao-gera-panico-em-quem-trabalha-nas-ferrovias.ghtml

Sharing is caring!