In 2025, the Rio de Janeiro Military Police arrested 209 criminals from other states and countries, marking a 24% increase compared to 2024. These “outsiders,” primarily from the Comando Vermelho, seek refuge in complexes like Alemão and Penha, paying local bosses for protection and infrastructure to lead their gangs remotely. The data reveals that while most domestic arrests involved individuals from Minas Gerais and São Paulo, the 39 foreign nationals captured were led by Colombians and Chileans. Authorities highlight that these alliances allow criminals to export criminal expertise while using Rio as a strategic command hub.
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21/01/2026 – On Wednesday (21), Civil Police arrested a 49-year-old Military Police sergeant in Realengo, North Zone, for the statutory rape of his stepdaughter. Investigations revealed the abuse began when the victim was eight years old and continued for seven years, with the officer allegedly using his firearm to intimidate and silence her. The sergeant, who served in the 9th BPM (Rocha Miranda), is currently held at the Military Police Prison Unit in Niterói.
23/01/2026 – On Friday (23), several cars were vandalized in Copacabana near Santa Clara Street, an act residents attributed to a homeless crack user frequenting the area. The incident highlights a surge in insecurity and drug use linked to the nearby Ladeira dos Tabajaras, prompting some buildings to install large planters or remove awnings to deter encampments. While police have reinforced patrols, social services emphasize that sheltering remains voluntary, leaving business owners and long-time residents frustrated by the recurring disorder and property damage.
24/01/2026 – On Saturday (24), the Military Police seized 49 sharp objects—including knives, scissors, and box cutters—at the “Chá da Alice” megablock, on the Praça da Candelária, in the city center. This preventive action is part of a special security operation involving 23 checkpoints equipped with metal detectors to screen attendees. These measures continued for Sunday’s “Megablock da Lexa” to ensure public order and the safety of carnival-goers by confiscating any items that could be used as weapons.
24/01/2026 – On Saturday (24), a man was shot in the legs by military police after invading a snack bar in Campo Grande, West Zone, and threatening officers with a knife. Witnesses reported that the suspect, who appeared to be intoxicated, crashed a car into the establishment and caused extensive damage before confronting the police. The individual was taken into custody to Rocha Faria Hospital and charged with multiple offenses.
25/01/2026 – On Sunday night (25), a pizza delivery driver was shot and killed during a robbery on Avenida Cesário de Melo, in Senador Vasconcelos, West Zone. While making a delivery, Paulo was targeted by criminals who fired multiple shots before fleeing with his motorcycle. In response to the tragedy—the second fatal shooting of a courier in the city within a week—fellow delivery drivers and family members held a protest on Monday (26), blocking roads in Campo Grande to demand justice and better security.
26/01/2026 – On Monday morning (26), an intense shootout between rival criminal factions near the Jordão community in Tanque, West Zone, left one man dead and two others wounded. Witnesses captured footage of heavily armed gunmen running along Estrada do Cafundá as residents sought cover from the heavy gunfire.
26/01/2026 – In the early hours of Monday (26), three inmates were caught attempting to escape from the Plácido de Sá Carvalho Penal Institute in the Gericinó Complex, in Bangu, West Zone. The prisoners, who were in isolation, managed to break a hole through a wall and overpower a prison officer before an alarm was triggered by another guard. Security cameras captured one inmate using a rope to scale a wall into a wooded area, where he was immediately apprehended by the Mobile Tactical Group, while the other two were forced back into custody. The officer who was held hostage received medical attention and is doing well.
27/01/2026 – On Tuesday morning (27), two civil police officers were injured during an intense shootout in the Prazeres (Santa Teresa) and Escondidinho (Rio Comprido) communities. Part of Operation Tourniquet, the raid targeted Comando Vermelho members involved in vehicle thefts and led to two arrests and the recovery of four stolen cars. The officers, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, were fired upon from a tactical structure hidden in the forest. The operation caused major traffic disruptions on Rua Almirante Alexandrino and forced local health clinics to suspend home visits due to the violence.
27/01/2026 – On Tuesday afternoon (27), a Military Police operation targeting the Congonha, Cajueiro, Terço, and Faz Quem Quer communities in Madureira resulted in seven arrests and the rescue of an app driver held hostage. In retaliation, criminals hijacked nine buses to use as barricades on Avenida Ministro Edgard Romero, forcing the suspension of four BRT lines for approximately 30 minutes. The raid, part of the “Barricada Zero” program, led to the seizure of three pistols and the removal of ten tons of physical barriers.
27/01/2026 – On Tuesday night (27), a 12-year-old boy was apprehended by Seguranca Presente agents after stealing a necklace on Rua Ataulfo de Paiva in Leblon South Zone. The minor was caught and held by residents until officers arrived, following an alert shared in a neighborhood WhatsApp group. The stolen jewelry was recovered nearby, found broken in a garden.
27/01/2026 – On Tuesday afternoon (27), Federal Police arrested a Military Police officer inside the 9th BPM (Rocha Miranda) for allegedly leading a criminal organization that defrauded Caixa Econômica Federal. The officer, who had been a fugitive since 2019, is accused of orchestrating a multi-state fraud scheme over several years.
28/01/2026 – On Wednesday (28), Rio police launched a major operation in the Ipase, Juramentinho, and Trem communities targeting Comando Vermelho members involved in the torture and murder of a local youth. The action has resulted in two arrests so far, amidst intense shootouts and burning barricades that forced several bus lines to divert and health clinics to suspend services. Specialized units like BOPE and Core are executing multiple warrants to dismantle the violent cell responsible for territorial disputes and resident coercion in the North Zone.
28/01/2026 – According to a report published on Wednesday (28), a 76-year-old woman in Rio de Janeiro lost R$ 160,000 after being targeted by the “fake medical exam” scam. Posing as employees of the Samaritano Hospital in Botafogo, criminals used real patient data to convince her that an urgent diagnosis required a home delivery fee. A courier arrived at her home and performed multiple fraudulent transactions using a credit card machine under the guise of a small delivery charge. Authorities and the hospital emphasize that healthcare institutions never request payments over the phone or charge fees for the home delivery of exam results.
28/01/2026 – According to a report published on Wednesday (28), scammers in Rio de Janeiro used artificial intelligence to impersonate attorney Felipe Lima Gomes in video calls, even targeting his own mother. Since mid-January 2026, approximately 30 clients have been targeted by this sophisticated scheme, where criminals use deepfake technology to promise fictitious judicial payouts in exchange for “legal fees.” The OAB-RJ, which records nearly four such complaints daily, has secured restricted access to judicial consultation systems to hinder data harvesting by these specialized cybercriminal networks.
28/01/2026 – On Wednesday (28), a 58-year-old woman died after being shot in the Catiri area of Bangu, West Zone. The victim, Maria da Ajuda Santana do Nascimento, was hit when an unidentified vehicle drove by and opened fire; she was declared dead upon arrival at the Albert Schweitzer Municipal Hospital. A second person was wounded in the arm during the same shooting and remains in stable condition.
29/01/2026 – On Thursday morning (29), a Civil Police operation in the Manguinhos complex caused the suspension of the Saracuruna train line after gunfire struck the overhead power cables. The raid, part of “Operation Tourniquet,” targeted a Comando Vermelho cell specializing in cargo theft along major highways like Avenida Brasil. By 6:30, five suspects had been arrested, and investigators revealed the group relied on inside information from logistics employees to hijack high-value shipments, such as lubricant oils.
29/01/2026 – In the early hours of Thursday (29), armed thieves targeted two pharmacies in Rio’s North Zone, specifically seeking high-value weight-loss pens. In Irajá, a group of five—including a pregnant woman—robbed a store of medications and cosmetics while also mugging a customer. Shortly after, in Vila da Penha, two men on a motorcycle stole over R$ 100,000 worth of specialty drugs like Mounjaro. Employees noted that criminals now arrive with specific lists of high-cost refrigerated items, marking the fourth such robbery at one location this month alone.
29/01/2026 – On Thursday (29), Civil Police arrested a suspect in the Manguinhos slum for a string of luxury home burglaries across Rio’s South Zone. Targeting mansions in Jardim Botânico, Gávea, and São Conrado by entering through wooded areas at night, the suspect reportedly caused losses of approximately R$ 1 million per crime. Self-styled as a “modern-day Pedro Dom,” the individual had 47 prior criminal records and was identified after flaunting stolen Rolexes and large sums of cash on social media.
29/01/2026 – On Thursday (29), an off-duty Military Police corporal was shot and killed during an attack in the Penha neighborhood. The officer, who was stationed at the Santa Marta UPP, was rushed to Getúlio Vargas State Hospital but succumbed to his injuries; he leaves behind a wife and three children. Recognized as an outstanding member of the force, he had recently ranked first in the state for total police stops.
30/01/2026 – On Friday morning (30), an intense shootout erupted in the Vigário Geral and Parada de Lucas communities within the Complexo de Israel, North Zone. The conflict began when drug traffickers attacked a specialized police unit (Desarme) returning from an operation; while no injuries were reported, passengers on a passing train were forced to take cover on the floor. The gunfire damaged SuperVia’s overhead power lines, causing significant disruptions and partial closures on the Saracuruna line.
30/01/2026 – On Friday morning (30), BOPE teams and three other battalions launched an operation in Morro do Fubá, North Zone, following the shooting of two military police officers the previous day. The officers were wounded while attempting to recover a stolen food truck, with one struck in the head and the other in the chest; both are currently in stable condition. The ongoing raid targets drug traffickers involved in the confrontation and included intensive patrolling of the community’s forested areas.
