On Friday (18/07), police records unveiled a grim reality in Rio de Janeiro and parts of the Baixada Fluminense, identifying at least 35 critical areas plagued by frequent conflicts between criminal factions. These include the Comando Vermelho (CV), Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP), various militias, and internal dissident groups. These intense disputes directly impact the lives of approximately 2.3 million residents in these conflagrated zones, and a significant majority (75%) of stray bullet incidents in the state are linked to these conflicts or the criminals involved. In the first five months of the year alone, there were 335 reported stray bullet incidents in the state. The Military Police (PM) acknowledges the “complexity” of the situation, highlighting their efforts in combating these groups. As a testament to the ongoing struggle, the PM seized a record 638 rifles last year, surpassing the previous high of 505 in 2019. So far in 2025, over 300 rifles have already been confiscated. The report details specific instances of violence, such as a teenager being shot in the arm in Campinho by a stray bullet during a confrontation between traffickers and militiamen. It also highlights the pervasive threat of extortion, with van drivers in Bangu reporting being forced to pay different criminal groups to operate. Additionally, residents in areas like Serrinha face random cell phone checks by traffickers, with severe consequences for any perceived affiliation with rival factions.
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A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology has established a significant link between extreme heat waves and an increase in homicide rates in Brazil. Analyzing temperature records and homicide data from 510 micro-regions across the country between 2010 and 2019, the research found a 10.6% rise in homicides during periods when temperatures soared 5°C above the average for up to eight days. This groundbreaking study is the first to prove such a relationship in Brazil, a phenomenon previously observed in other nations. The findings indicate that certain demographics are disproportionately affected: homicide deaths among women increased by 15.3%, potentially linked to domestic violence, while those among individuals aged 60-69 saw a 16.7% rise, possibly due to greater exposure during outdoor activities. The study also noted that the North region exhibited the strongest correlation between heat and homicides. Researchers suggest that excessive heat, when combined with existing social factors such as inequality, limited state presence, criminality, and high humidity, can act as a potent catalyst for aggression, interpersonal conflicts, and opportunistic crimes. This comprehensive analysis provides robust evidence for the complex interplay between climate and public safety.
13/07/2025 – On Sunday (13/07), Thiago Lourenço Morgano, 36, was brutally murdered by his friend and roommate, Bruno Guimarães da Cunha Chagas, in São Carlos slum. Bruno confessed to stabbing Thiago during an argument, then committed an act of extreme cruelty by dismembering, cooking, and blending parts of his body in an attempt to conceal the crime. The horrific discovery was made by Thiago’s sister, who found his remains in a refrigerator. Bruno, who also worked with Thiago at a bakery, is now imprisoned as the Civil Police investigates the motive behind this exceptionally violent incident.
15/07/2025 – On Tuesday (15/07), 20 buses (15 municipal, 5 intermunicipal) were hijacked and had their keys stolen in Madureira, Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, a day after an operation in Complexo da Serrinha. According to Rio Ônibus, 83 buses have been hijacked in 2025 so far, averaging 12 per month. The tension led to 15 bus lines deviating their routes, and Avenida Edgard Romero was closed, with vehicles used as barricades. This follows similar incidents, including three hijacked buses last week in Complexo da Pedreira and another on Monday in Costa Barros, all used as barricades during police operations. Four schools and two health clinics in Serrinha were also impacted.
15/07/2025 – On Tuesday (15/07) evening, a resident on the sixth floor of a building in Glória, South Zone, Rio, was startled awake to find an unidentified drone flying in his living room. The “intruder” fled when the lights were turned on. This unexpected incident has alarmed the condominium, which issued a warning to residents to keep curtains closed. The building manager, Carlos Correia, searched security footage but found no clues, though he mentioned rumors of drones being used for drug deliveries in Glória. The startled resident, a taxi driver, expressed his discomfort with the invasion of privacy, now keeping windows closed and relying on air conditioning. Legal experts advise reporting such “visits” to the police, as they constitute crimes of privacy violation and electronic invasion of domicile. Similar incidents of intrusive drone flights have been reported in other condominiums.
15/07/2025 – On Tuesday (15/07), Edson Batista dos Santos Filho, a former civil police officer, was arrested for international arms trafficking after surrendering at the 43rd Police Precinct (Guaratiba). He has since been transferred to the prison system. Batista dos Santos Filho, father of city councilman Willian Coelho, had previously been arrested in 2022 during “Operation Resina,” which targeted a criminal gang specializing in the theft of truck cargo. At that time, he was caught with an unregistered firearm, and authorities found USD 15,000 in cash and BRL 300,000 in checks at his home. Coelho stated his father’s current arrest relates to a 2013 case, and he surrendered voluntarily upon the sentence’s publication.
16/07/2025 – On Wednesday (16/07), the Military Police concluded an operation in Rio’s Complexo da Serrinha, Madureira, resulting in two deaths and five arrests. The action began Tuesday with a violent protest where 21 buses were hijacked by traffickers, blocking Avenida Edgard Romero. Authorities seized two rifles and 10 homemade grenades, also removing nine tons of barricade material. The two deceased were TCP faction members. The operation significantly impacted 25 bus lines, suspended BRT services, and closed four municipal schools.
16/07/2025 – On Wednesday (16/07) evening, a new clash erupted between rival Comando Vermelho (CV) and Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP) drug traffickers in a wooded area high up in the Morro dos Macacos, Vila Isabel, North Zone. Military Police (PM) responded to reports of gunfire, but suspects fled before their arrival. No injuries were reported, and policing remains reinforced in the area. This ongoing conflict for control of Morro dos Macacos, currently dominated by CV, has been active for at least six months.
16/07/2025 – On Wednesday (16/07), Military Police Corporal Carlos Eduardo de Souza, 44th BPM (São Cristóvão), was fatally shot during an off-duty robbery in São Cristóvão, North Zone, Rio. He was approached near Quinta da Boa Vista when he reacted. One suspect was arrested for aggravated robbery (latrocínio) and taken to the 17th DP (São Cristóvão). During the incident, another individual’s motorcycle was stolen as they sought cover; the vehicle was recovered, and the driver was arrested for receiving stolen goods. A second motorcycle, used in the robbery, was also seized. Corporal Souza was taken to Hospital Souza Aguiar but succumbed to his injuries. He is the 25th PM killed violently in Rio state this year, with 15 off-duty deaths.
17/07/2025 – The Rio Civil Police has initiated “Operação Rastreio,” contacting owners of recovered cell phones for their return. Victims of theft or robbery are being notified via official police phone calls or WhatsApp messages regarding the date, time, and location for pickup, with restitutions set to occur this month. Deliveries will take place at Cidade da Polícia in the North Zone for the capital, specific DPs for the Metropolitan Region, and local district police stations for the interior. Since its launch in May, Operação Rastreio has seized over 4,700 stolen or robbed cell phones, with approximately 1,400 being returned in this phase. The remaining devices are undergoing forensics to locate their rightful owners. Previously, around 3,000 individuals found with illicitly obtained phones were given 72 hours to return them, with about 1,000 complying voluntarily. Those who did not are now under investigation for receiving stolen goods, and over 260 arrests have already been made. Additionally, the “Celular Seguro RJ” app was launched on July 1st, allowing IMEI registration and restriction checks to combat the entire criminal chain, and consumers are urged to buy from reputable sources and demand invoices.
17/07/2025 – On Thursday (17/07), the Rio Civil Police launched “Operação Caminhos do Cobre” in Complexo da Pedreira, North Zone, targeting the region’s main clandestine junkyard. Ten people were arrested, and ten tons of irregular metallic material, including copper wires stolen from energy, transport, and telecom companies, along with parts from stolen vehicles and cargo, were seized. The junkyard, managed by two brothers with criminal records and ties to local drug traffickers, is considered the primary hub for receiving stolen materials. The operation, involving multiple specialized delegations, also affected 20 municipal schools and a health unit, which suspended activities.
17/07/2025 – On Thursday (17/07) afternoon, Leonardo Lopes Bastos, 45, was executed by gunfire in Irajá, North Zone, Rio. While driving on Avenida Monsenhor Félix, near Rua Guiraréia, a man on the back of a motorcycle opened fire on his car. Two other individuals were targeted, with one being struck and taken to Hospital Salgado Filho in Méier; their condition is currently unknown. Military Police from the 41st BPM responded, and witnesses identified Leonardo as the owner of an internet company operating in Irajá. Homicide Police (DHC) are investigating to identify the perpetrators.
18/07/2025 – On Friday (18/07) morning, Rio de Janeiro Civil Police, in a joint operation with Pará Civil Police, arrested Cleiton Nonato Leal Brito, a suspected leader of the Comando Vermelho (CV) drug trafficking faction in Belém, Pará. Brito, who was hiding in the Morro do Fallet in central Rio, was targeted by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DRE) and the Special Resources Coordination (Core). Upon the police’s arrival at Fallet, traffickers opened fire on agents, but no injuries were reported. Brito, who has a criminal record for homicide and robbery and was subject to an open arrest warrant for being part of a criminal organization, was taken to Cidade da Polícia for processing. He will then be transferred to Benfica Prison for a custody hearing.
