Antônio Francisco Bonfim Lopes (born 24 May 1976), better known as Nem (short for "nemesis") or Nem da Rocinha, is a Brazilian drug lord and one of the leaders of "Amigos dos Amigos". Lopes had a net worth of R$100 million ($60 million), was the undisputed head of all drug trafficking operations in Rocinha and branded by the Brazilian government as "Public Enemy #1".[1]
Antônio Francisco Bonfim Lopes | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 May 1976 |
| Other names | Nem Nem da Rocinha Dono do Morro ("King of the Hill") |
| Predecessor | Orlando Jose Rodrigues |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Spouse | Danubia Rangel |
| Criminal charge | Drug trafficking and smuggling |
| Penalty | 12 years imprisonment |
Early life
editLopes was born in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro. His parents moved from Paraíba, a state in northeast Brazil to escape the local poverty. Before he became involved in drug trafficking, Lopes worked as a delivery boy for a magazine company.[2]
Criminal career
editLopes became an enforcer and security guard for the leader of Amigos dos Amigos, Erismar Rodrigues Moreira, also known as "'Bem-Te-Vi'".
When Moreira was killed in 2005, Lopes murdered Moreira's successor, Orlando Jose Rodrigues, and seized power as the new leader in 2007.[3] Under his reign over Rocinha, Lopes had 120 armed hitmen and was responsible for more than 60% of consumed cocaine in Rio.[4] He had connections with Bolivian cocaine dealers and brought 200 kilograms of cocaine from Bolivia per month.[5] Lopes lived in a luxurious 3-storey mansion in Rio and earned a reputation for his parties and relationships with many celebrities.
2011 arrest
editOn 10 November 2011, police arrested Lopes, who was hiding inside a Toyota Corolla, heading out of Rocinha.[6] Lopes attempted to bribe the police $570,000 but they refused, while the driver claimed diplomatic immunity.[7] Lopes was sentenced to 12 years in a maximum-security prison for drug charges. Following his arrest, Rocinha was occupied by a Pacifying Police Unit.[8]
Journalist and historian Misha Glenny has written the biography of Lopes, Nem: The Hunt for Brazil's Most Wanted Criminal. It was based on 28 hours of interviews with Lopes in prison, and was published by Bodley Head in 2015.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Misha Glenny (13 September 2015). "The day I met Rio's favela master: the drug lord who championed the poor". The Guardian. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- ^ "Drug-dealing in Brazil - Single-handed | Books and arts". The Economist. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- ^ Héctor Silva Ávalos (2018-04-04). "Antônio Francisco Bonfim Lopes, alias 'Nem'". Insightcrime.org. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- ^ "Getting to Know the Drug Lord Who Controlled Rio's Biggest Slum". VICE. 2015-11-15. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- ^ Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro (11 November 2011). "Brazilian 'drug lord' sees reign as 'king of the hill' end in car boot | World news". The Guardian. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- ^ "Brazil Rocinha drug lord 'Nem' jailed for 12 years - BBC News". BBC News. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- ^ "BBC News - Brazil police arrest alleged drug chief of Rocinha slum". Bbc.co.uk. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
- ^ Yapp, Robin. "Antonio Francisco Bonfim Lopes: profile of the drugs baron". Telegraph. Retrieved 2020-02-20.