A drug lord was arrested in a clinic where his face was changed (2 photos + 1 video)
Luis Carlos Lomba was arrested when he went to a beauty clinic for a follow-up check on March 13. He had undergone facial harmonisation there to avoid detection by law enforcement. 
Police Chief Felipe Curi told local media: "The police have been after him for years. He was at the clinic doing cosmetic procedures – facial harmonisation, hair transplants, because he was bald – all to avoid detection. He did not come forward and avoided being photographed." 
Lombá, nicknamed Chocolate, was arrested in Itaperuna, northeast of Rio de Janeiro, as part of a police operation.
The operation, which involved more than 700 officers, targeted fugitives wanted for robbery, murder with intent to commit robbery and receiving stolen property. More than 600 people were arrested across Rio de Janeiro state as part of the operation.
Police say Chocolate, 61, is one of three notorious criminals in the Terceiro Comando Puro gang. The criminal organization was founded 23 years ago in the Maré favela in Rio de Janeiro. Police say Luis' role was to evaluate the quality of the cocaine sold by the group, acting as a kind of chemist.
Curi said: "He had knowledge that few people in the drug business have. He could take one kilo of cocaine and turn it into six or seven. He earned about 1,000 reais ($170) per kilo, and the amount of drugs sold in Maré is huge."
Chocolaté recently trained another gang member to do his job, allowing him to move to Itaperua, where he worked remotely, giving orders to his part of the group.
He had an outstanding arrest warrant for organized crime and robbery in 2024. But he is under investigation for at least 35 crimes. Incredibly, Lomba's arrest was his first, despite having been involved in drug trafficking since his youth.
Kuri said: "He was an old criminal who the police had been looking for for years."
