Jiu-jitsu instructor Melqui Galvão, arrested for sex crimes, found with phone in underwear at SP prison
Melquisedeque de Lima Galvão Ferreira, a jiu-jitsu instructor known as Melqui Galvão, has been apprehended with a mobile phone concealed in his underwear during a search at the Presídio da Polícia Civil (PEPC) in Santana, São Paulo. Galvão is currently facing charges for rape and other sexual offenses. The inspection on June 25 was prompted by anonymous tips regarding the presence of phones within the correctional facility. Civil Police Internal Affairs agents, supported by the Chief of Investigators, conducted searches of cells and inmates, discovering the blue Motorola phone with a transparent case hidden in Galvão's undergarments. The device was seized, and other inmates were also found with phones and accessories. This incident follows a February 2025 discovery where 23 cell phones and prohibited items were found in the cells of police officers accused of corruption, also at the PEPC. That operation was part of an investigation into the murder of PCC informant Vinicius Gritzbach. In response to the earlier findings, the São Paulo Civil Police Internal Affairs removed the prison's director, Guilherme Solano, after prosecutors and investigators received complaints that arrested officers were using phones to communicate with individuals outside the prison.
The discovery of a contraband mobile phone on a high-profile inmate, Melqui Galvão, within a São Paulo Civil Police facility highlights persistent challenges in maintaining institutional security and control over prohibited items. This event, occurring amidst ongoing investigations into sexual offenses and corruption, suggests potential systemic vulnerabilities in correctional oversight. The simultaneous presence of other inmates with contraband phones indicates a broader issue that may require re-evaluation of internal security protocols and personnel accountability. The prior removal of the prison director following a similar contraband discovery underscores the recurring nature of these security lapses. Future considerations should focus on technological solutions for detection, enhanced staff training, and robust auditing mechanisms to prevent such occurrences and ensure the integrity of the correctional environment.
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