Joseph The Parrot, AKA ‘Ze Carioca’ was apparently arrested in Sao Paulo yesterday as part of a multi state operation. He is being labeled the ‘mastermind’ of a criminal organization accused of money laundering, manufacturing and selling illegal firearms. It is however more likely that he has been lumped in with other suspects and may have only been making dummy props or supplying incomplete or unregulated parts.
Ze Carioca was the main designer of the Urutau, a bullpup 9mm version of the FGC-9 designed to be easily made anywhere in the world. The accompanying document ‘The New Second Amendment’ outlines the project’s objectives.
Police in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre uncovered a manufacture and distribution operation and conducted raids yesterday afternoon (27). It looks like the future of gun control is looking rather choppy at this rate.
“The seven submachine guns seized late Friday afternoon (27) in a house in the Vila Diehl neighborhood, in Novo Hamburgo, were of similar quality to police weapons, according to delegate Ayrton Martins, from the Organized Crime Repression Division (Draco). “In addition to being accurate, the weapons also have quality control, so much so that the steel used is of good quality,” he mentioned. The house is located at the end of Arthur Momberger Street, almost on the border with Dois Irmãos. Another item that also caught attention was the printer used in the manufacturing, considered state-of-the-art. According to Draco, the gunsmith behind the manufacturing has technical knowledge and no criminal record. The weapons were sold with 32-round magazines, plus 10 test cartridges.”
A fairly common model of black market submachine gun in Brazil which has shown up in police seizures for well over 10 years now. It is a typical open-bolt, smooth-bore bullet hose sometimes marked ‘SPECTRA’ with Cobray markings and at least some are indicated to be chambered in .40 S&W. It appears to be supplied with a lengthy suppressor/silencer as standard.
Our friend the airsoft SCAR monstrosity making an appearance alongside what looks to be some sort of pump-action shotgun thing. The Beretta M12 SMG is a refreshing addition.
Opening up the clam-shell bodies reveals crude blowback smg innards made from square tubing. They must have been selling like hotcakes as they had been showing up frequently in weapon & drug seizures.
The magazines appear to be very crude single-stack affairs welded together from steel sheet. Capacity for these types is usually around 20 rounds. Not ideal but probably adequate for hosing down rival crack dealers in drive-bys.
“Operation Clandestine Forge dismantles illegal weapons manufacturing scheme in Bahia The group produced handcrafted weapons to supply a criminal organization operating in Salvador and the interior of the state 04/02/2026 The Civil Police of Bahia launched, on the morning of this Wednesday (4), Operation Clandestine Forge, with the objective of dismantling a criminal organization involved in the illegal manufacture of firearms. Investigations indicate that the group produced handcrafted weapons to supply a criminal organization operating in Salvador and in municipalities in the interior of the state.
So far, two arrest warrants and six search and seizure warrants have been executed. Two suspects were arrested in the Itinga neighborhood, in Lauro de Freitas, including the main target of the operation, a 35-year-old man, identified as responsible for the location where the criminal scheme operated. At the same address, a 31-year-old woman was also arrested. In addition to the preventive arrests, both were caught in the act for illegal possession of a firearm and drug trafficking. During the execution of the warrants, civil police officers seized a homemade 12-gauge shotgun, as well as two blocks of marijuana, reinforcing the group’s connection to other crimes associated with organized crime. Information indicated that the suspects were frequently acquiring replicas of airsoft guns, ballistic supplies, and metal parts used to convert these devices into firearms.
The purchases were made on a large scale through digital platforms. According to the investigation, one suspect acquired approximately 87 replicas, another approximately 30 units, and a third suspect more than 50, in addition to accessories compatible with restricted calibers, such as 9mm. According to the director of DEIC, Thomas Galdino, the suspects possessed the technical knowledge for the artisanal manufacture of firearms. “This capability was confirmed by the existence of metalworking shops registered in the names of two of the targets and by the seizure of tools used in the machining and assembly of firing systems. Investigations also indicate that the group maintained a direct link with members of a criminal organization, supplying weapons used in crimes such as homicides and aggravated robberies,” he highlighted. The operation is coordinated by the Specialized Department of Criminal Investigations (DEIC). The investigations began based on complaints received by the Specialized Anti-Kidnapping Police Station (DAS), a unit linked to the DEIC, and intelligence actions developed by the Department of Technical Police (DPT). The investigations continue, with the aim of executing another arrest warrant against another suspect who is a fugitive.”
The original Chinese made airsoft guns are branded ‘Vigor Scar-L 8902A’ and are available online for $40 / £32.
Impro Guns 