The Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship, led by Silvio Almeida, confirmed that it paid for one of the trips to Brasília for Luciane Barbosa Farias, known as the “drug lady” of Amazonas and wife of the head of a criminal faction in the state. According to the ministry, the payment took place after she was appointed as Amazonian representative to participate in the Meeting of Committees and Mechanisms to Prevent and Combat Torture.
The event took place on 6 and 7 November this year.
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Traffic Lady
Wife of the head of a criminal faction in Amazonas, Luciane was sentenced in the second instance to 10 years in prison for the crimes of money laundering, trafficking association and criminal organization, but she appealed and is free. She is the wife of Clemilson dos Santos Farias, Tio Patinhas, head of the Amazonian faction, and, according to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, played an essential role in concealing drug trafficking assets carried by her husband.
Didn’t Meet the Minister
The Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino, denied having ever seen or met Luciane Barbosa Farias during an appointment at the Ministry of Human Rights. During a press conference, she would have stated that she participated in hearings with the presence of Dino in the department headed by Silvio Almeida, although without having spoken directly with the politicians.
President Lula Defends
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended, on Wednesday (15/11), the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino, after the case involving Luciane Barbosa Farias, better known as the “drug lady” in Amazonas. The president stated that Dino has been the target of “absurd artificially planted attacks” and that the minister of “reiterated that he has never met the wife of a criminal faction leader.” Lula also stated that the Ministry of Justice has “coordinated actions of enormous importance for the country” and that these actions “awaken many opponents”.
No Layoffs
Minister Flávio Dino stated on Thursday (16/11) that he does not intend to dismiss the secretaries who held hearings with Luciane Barbosa Farias, wife of a faction leader in Amazonas, and who was at the ministry’s headquarters in Brasília twice. The dismissal of subordinates, for Dino, would mean demoralization of him as a boss.
New Rules
The national secretary of Legislative Affairs of the Ministry of Justice, Elias Vaz, admitted that he was wrong in not having carried out a prior check on the members of a delegation he received in which was Luciane Barbosa Farias, better known as the “Amazonian drug lady”. After the case was announced, the ministry changed the access rules to its headquarters and the names of hearing participants must be communicated up to 48 hours in advance for checking.
Analysis:
This episode, combined with security crises affecting states such as Rio and Bahia, in addition to signals issued by the Senate, weakened Dino’s name to occupy the position of minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF). Lula’s trusted aides assess that, in this scenario, the Attorney General of the Union (AGU), Jorge Messias, gained momentum in the dispute he is fighting with his government colleague behind the scenes. The vacancy at the Supreme Court has been open since 30 September, when Rosa Weber retired after turning 75. The president of the Federal Court of Auditors (TCU), Bruno Dantas, is also considered for the post.
