São Paulo Police Break Up Faraday-Backed Phone Fencing Ring

Overview

• The police operation, which took place Wednesday, executed 19 search warrants at an electromagnetically shielded property and seized 182 cellphones, 42 rings and cash and jewelry with an estimated value up to R$500,000.
• Officers arrested one suspect and identified eight others under investigation as part of Operação Contrafeixe, and they say new arrests are possible after forensic work on the devices.
• Investigators found the site used both Faraday-style bags and an insulated room plus active jammers that blocked cellular, Wi-Fi and GPS signals to prevent victims from tracking stolen phones.
• Authorities say the location functioned as a manipulation center where phones were cleaned, unlocked and sorted for resale or to be used to access banking apps for fraud.
• The case highlights how 'quebra-vidro' street thefts in São Paulo feed organized fencing networks and shows that IMEI checks and device forensics are central to linking seized phones to victims and widening the probe.