More than 20 buses were used as barricades on Edgard Romero Avenue in Madureira, located in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, on Tuesday (15/07). A total of 21 buses, 15 municipal and 6 intercity, were hijacked by criminals. At least one articulated BRT bus was also used to block the avenue, according to MOBI-RIO. Edgard Romero Avenue remained closed for approximately two hours. The incident occurred amid an ongoing police operation by the Special Operations Command (COE) in the Serrinha community. One suspect was killed during an armed confrontation.
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Clashes
This episode of violence took place on the same day that the Military Police launched an operation in Morro da Serrinha, a community controlled by drug traffickers and considered a key strategic area for organized crime in Rio’s North Zone. Starting early Tuesday morning (15), criminals began blocking streets with hijacked buses and dumpsters to obstruct police activity. Over the day, 21 buses were taken and used as roadblocks. Among them was at least one articulated BRT vehicle, further intensifying the disruption, according to MOBI-RIO.
Operation Against Gang Expansion
The Military Police reported that the operation in Serrinha was conducted by specialized COE units, including personnel from the Shock Police Battalion (BPChq), the Canine Action Battalion (BAC), the Motorcycle Tactical Battalion (BTM), and the Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE). According to the police, BOPE officers came under fire from heavily armed criminals, leading to a shootout in which one suspect was killed. Authorities stated that the deceased was found carrying a rifle and a magazine of ammunition. Colonel Menezes, Secretary of the Military Police, explained that the operation is part of a broader strategy to contain the territorial expansion of criminal groups. The focus is on halting the advance of gangs attempting to take control of neighboring areas such as Juramento and Campinho/Fubá.
The 15-Year Drug War
The Serrinha Complex comprises the communities of Serrinha, Fazenda, Patolinha, São José, and Dendezinho. It has been under the control of drug trafficker Wallace Brito Trindade, also known as Lacoste, who has been a fugitive since 2007. According to Civil Police investigations, Lacoste consolidated control over the area in 2012 and has since sought to expand its influence into favelas dominated by the rival faction Red Command (CV). Residents have been caught in the crossfire of this turf war for over 15 years. In 2010, factional fighting caused widespread disruption, including the closure of stores and traffic shutdowns on Edgard Romero Avenue.
Bus Hijackings
According to Rio Ônibus, more than 80 buses have been hijacked in 2025, an average of 12 per month. Just a week before the events on Tuesday (15/07), three buses were seized and used as barricades in the Pedreira Complex during a day of intense gunfire. Additionally, on Monday (14/07), violence again disrupted transportation in the North Zone: a bus operating on route 920 (Bonsucesso–Pavuna) was hijacked and turned into a barricade in Costa Barros. This incident coincided with an operation carried out by the 41st Military Police Battalion (Irajá) in the Pedreira Complex.
Analysis:
The hijacking of 21 buses during a police operation in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone demonstrates the growing entrenchment of organized crime and its capacity to paralyze urban infrastructure. The incident reflects a pattern in which criminal groups respond to police incursions by weaponizing public services to create chaos, obstruct operations, and draw media attention. This tactic not only hampers law enforcement but also threatens the safety and mobility of the population, particularly in areas already affected by high levels of violence and inequality.
The deployment of specialized units such as BOPE in the Serrinha operation shows the seriousness of the security threat posed by Lacoste’s criminal network, which has maintained territorial control for over a decade. The attempt to expand into rival-controlled areas, like Juramento and Campinho/Fubá, suggests an ongoing power struggle that fuels instability across adjacent communities.
