A BEAUTY influencer who boasted about setting her enemies on fire has been arrested after allegedly taking over her husband’s cocaine empire.
Paula Simoes Assisi, 34, codenamed “Chanel”, is accused of masterminding massive drug shipments for Italy’s notorious ’Ndrangheta mafia.
The Brazilian social media star, who has tens of thousands of Instagram followers, allegedly seized control of the ruthless crime network after her husband and father-in-law were thrown in jail.
Cops believe she helped oversee a staggering 2.2 tonnes of cocaine while negotiating huge shipments destined for Europe.
But while allegedly striking lucrative deals with underworld associates, the suspected drug boss continued flaunting her glamorous lifestyle online.
And in one chilling Instagram post, Paula warned: “If people knew I had the courage to set them on fire, they wouldn’t take so many chances.”
There is no evidence the sinister message was connected to the alleged drug operation or directed at anyone in particular.
The influencer was snared in a major Brazilian-Italian police sting on September 17, with fresh details of her alleged criminal double life emerging on October 11.
But the roots of her sprawling cocaine racket stretch back to 2019, when her husband Patrick Assisi, and his father, Nicola, were arrested in the Brazilian coastal city of Praia Grande.
Both men were identified as members of the feared ‘Ndrangheta, one of Italy’s most powerful mafia organisations.
Yet locking up the suspected mob bosses allegedly did little to dismantle their lucrative drugs empire.
Instead, investigators believe Paula stepped into the power vacuum, taking the reins of the Brazilian operation while her husband remained behind bars.
And detectives claim the jailed mobster continued pulling strings from his prison cell, sending handwritten instructions to his wife.
Photographs of the messages reportedly showed Patrick ordering Paula to chase down outstanding debts owed to the criminal network.
Operating under the glamorous codename “Chanel”, the influencer allegedly used the encrypted messaging app SkyECC to strike deals with underworld associates.
In one intercepted exchange, she is accused of negotiating a mammoth 400kg cocaine shipment bound for Europe.
Detectives also unearthed discussions about drug suppliers, secret payments and the logistics behind the vast trafficking operation.
The cocaine was allegedly smuggled through Brazil‘s port of Paranagua, concealed inside shipping containers belonging to legitimate companies unaware their cargo was being used to ferry drugs.
Investigators believe Paula had been given the green light by her imprisoned husband to represent the mafia’s interests in Brazil and recover money owed to the organisation.
But the glamorous influencer was allegedly far from the only player keeping the mafia’s international drug pipeline flowing.
Lawyer Patrick Raasch Cardoso, who has practised for 25 years, was also arrested in the sweeping crackdown.
Detectives suspect he exploited his access to jailed criminals to ferry secret instructions between mob figures and help orchestrate cocaine shipments overseas.
He is also accused of acting as a crucial bridge between the Italian mafia and Brazilian crime syndicates.
Photographs recovered from his phone allegedly exposed drugs and huge wads of cash.
Another suspected accomplice, Franklin Rodrigues de Oliveira, known as “BXX”, was arrested after allegedly attempting to flee police.
Investigators believe he helped move cocaine and handle payments while serving as a key go-between for Italian mobsters and Brazilian gangs.
The sprawling international investigation was launched in 2020 after detectives uncovered signs that the cocaine pipeline had continued operating despite the arrests of its alleged ring leaders.
Working alongside Italian authorities and with support from Interpol, Brazilian federal police have since linked the network to at least 11 cocaine seizures totalling more than 4.6 tonnes
The latest crackdown, centred on the coastal city of Santos in Sao Paulo state, saw seven preventive arrest warrants issued alongside five search warrants.
Authorities also ordered the freezing of property and financial assets suspected of being tied to the criminal operation.
But Paula’s legal team has hit back at the explosive accusations, insisting the influencer had no involvement in the alleged cocaine empire.
Her lawyers stressed that not a single drug was seized from her and accused investigators of building their case on unproven assumptions.
They also disputed claims she had inherited her husband’s criminal operation following his arrest.
Cardoso’s defence team similarly rejected the allegations, insisting the lawyer had acted entirely within the bounds of his profession.
They have demanded his preventive detention be revoked.
Franklin’s lawyers declined to address the accusations but said they intended to prove his innocence in court.
Those implicated in the vast probe could face charges including international drug trafficking, criminal organisation offences and money laundering.
The arrests are preventive measures and none of the suspects has been convicted over the allegations.