When a large-scale robbery goes down at the border between Brazil and Paraguay, federal police officers are determined to find each and every criminal involved. It’s no easy task; there were more than 50 of them. For one officer, this mission is personal: Among the thieves is the man who killed his partner. Based on a real-life caper, the series Criminal Code is an epic cops-and-robbers action thriller that follows a team of investigators who painstakingly trace DNA evidence leading to a mountain of stolen cash. 

Created by producer-director Heitor Dhalia (A Divisão, O Arcanjo Renegado), Criminal Code was written by Bernardo Barcellos (I Wanna Have One Million Friends), Leonardo Levis (Ela e Eu), and Bruno Passeri (Rotas do Ódio). The series stars Rômulo Braga, Maeve Jinkings, and Thomás Aquino. 

When will Criminal Code be released?

Stream it now.

Where can I find the trailer for Criminal Code?

Check it out at the top of this article.

Rômulo Braga as Benício and Maeve Jinkings as Suellen in Criminal Code

Guilherme Leporace e Alisson Louback/Netflix

Who’s in the cast of Criminal Code?

• Rômulo Braga (Elon Doesn't Believe in Death) as Benício, a federal officer in Brazil who’s mourning the loss of his partner
• Maeve Jinkings (Neighboring Sounds) as Suellen, Benício’s new partner, who’s returning to work after parental leave
• Rafael Zulu (Smother-in-Law) as Rossi, Benício’s boss
• Thomás Aquino (Bacurau) as Sem Alma, part of “the organization,” who Benício suspects killed his partner
• Alex Nader (Arcanjo Renegado) as Isaac, Sem Alma’s associate

What happens in Criminal Code?

Benício is difficult to work with, has no partner, and is known for going rogue during investigations. It’s not without reason: Three months ago near the border of Paraguay and Brazil, his partner was killed during a mass prison break. So when a group of gangs commit an armed heist in Paraguay, Benicio thinks he might know who’s behind it: Sem Alma, the man who allegedly murdered his partner. When he’s teamed up with a new partner, Suellen, the two band together to solve the case — and are determined to engage in whatever off-the-books methods it takes. Meanwhile, officers from both sides of the border zero in on robber after robber using any means at their disposal, even scant DNA found in the gangs’ abandoned vehicles. 

Guilherme Leporace e Alisson Louback/Netflix

Is Criminal Code based on a true story?

Yes, it’s a fictionalized re-telling of a massive heist (and the ensuing investigation) that occurred in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, in 2017. The criminals robbed the local headquarters of Prosegur — a private security company that stores and transports cash and valuables (picture armored trucks and extra-heavy-duty safes) — and were alleged to have walked away with several million dollars in cash. 

It was the first large-scale international robbery carried out by Brazilians, involving several prominent gangs. It was also the first time Brazil’s federal police, who led the investigation, tracked down a majority of the assailants using primarily forensic evidence. Over the course of the investigation, officers identified over 50 DNA profiles of people who took part in the robbery. Their discoveries also led to unveiling countless people involved in organized crime across Brazil. 

Where does Criminal Code take place?

Criminal Code takes place near the border of Brazil and Paraguay. The heist occurs in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, and the federal police are based in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. 

Fool Me Once, Mindhunter, and Other Twisted Crime Dramas to Stream Now