The first quarter of 2026 saw a dramatic 144% surge in thefts and robberies of electric and hybrid vehicles in the state of Rio de Janeiro, with 366 reported cases. This alarming trend, highlighted by a recent armed robbery in the Maria da Graça neighborhood, North Zone, is driven by the use of these cars as status symbols during funk parties in local communities. Criminal factions now favor these models because they can be recharged within the favelas using illegal power connections, allowing criminals to avoid the risks of refueling at public gas stations.
01/04/2026 – In the early hours of Wednesday (1st), a shootout between police and criminals in the Asa Branca community in Barra Olímpica, Southwest Rio, left two suspects dead and one wounded. Following the incident, protesters set fire to objects and blocked Salvador Allende Avenue, requiring intervention from the crowd control unit (RECOM) to clear the road. At the scene, officers seized two pistols and drugs.
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01/04/2026 – On Wednesday (1st), Civil Police launched another phase of Operation Torniquete targeting a gang specialized in luxury vehicle theft across the South and West Zones of Rio. Two suspects were caught in the act with ammunition and key-cloning devices, equipment used by the group along with cloned vans and signal jammers to transport stolen goods. Search warrants were executed in neighborhoods such as Laranjeiras and Santa Teresa to dismantle the gang’s sophisticated logistical and technological infrastructure, which had previously been caught on camera during recent thefts in Copacabana.
01/04/2026 – On Wednesday afternoon (1st), a Military Police operation on Dom Hélder Câmara Avenue in Piedade, North Zone, left one suspect dead and another arrested. The pair, riding a motorcycle, attempted to flee against traffic and exchanged gunfire with officers after being intercepted at a junction. Social media videos captured the escape attempt and the subsequent foot chase. Two revolvers were seized from the suspects.
02/04/2026 – On Thursday (2), between Cerqueira Daltro and Gaspar Viana streets in Cascadura, North Zone, a 45-year-old motorcyclist lost his life after being struck in the neck by a “linha chilena” (manja-coated cutting line). Leandro Rezende Cardoso, an administrator and law student, was captured on security footage suddenly falling from his bike upon encountering the sharp line. Despite being rescued by bystanders and taken to the Salgado Filho Municipal Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries, and the individual responsible for using the prohibited line was arrested in the act.
02/04/2026 – On Thursday (2), a municipal guard and a street sweeper were robbed in Grajaú State Park, North Rio. Armed with knives and a pistol, the criminals approached the officer under the false belief that, with the recent creation of the Municipal Special Force, all guards were now armed, which is not the case. Although the victims’ belongings were stolen, there were no physical assaults, and the case was reported to the 20th PD (Vila Isabel), leading to the suspects being arrested in the act.
04/04/2026 – In the early hours of Saturday (4), on Delfim Moreira Avenue in Leblon, South Rio, a white Fiat Fiorino van used by a gang specialized in motorcycle thefts was intercepted by police. The vehicle had been monitored since March 26 by Rio’s CIVITAS Electronic Surveillance system, which identified the criminals’ movement patterns and signs of license plate cloning. Following 17 real-time alerts, officers from the 13th PD (Ipanema) set up a tactical perimeter, recovered the van used to transport stolen bikes, and the suspects were arrested in the act.
04/04/2026 – On Saturday (4), Fluminense FC forward John Kennedy’s vehicle was targeted in an armed robbery in the Grajaú neighborhood. The criminals stole the car and the driver’s phone, forcing a transfer of 8,000 reais before taking the vehicle to the Lins Complex. Away in Curitiba for a league match at the time, the player asked a friend living in the community to recover the car. Intercepted by police while driving the plateless vehicle, the friend had to prove his account via a video call between the footballer and the police chief before being released.
04/04/2026 – On Saturday (4), the Partisan bar in Rio’s Lapa district displayed a sign in English stating that U.S. and Israeli citizens were not welcome. The act was deemed discriminatory and abusive by authorities, which stated that it directly violates the Brazilian Consumer Defense Code, document that prohibits refusing service without legitimate justification. Following a significant social media impact, city councilors denounced the bar for xenophobia and antisemitism, fining it R$ 9,520. The initiative reflects the bar owner’s political position towards USA and Israeli military actions around the globe. There have been other incidents, even with reported physical assault, involving nationals from such countries in Brazil. Many violent episodes have taken place in Bahia, where Israeli tourists got involved in fights with locals due to political issues. This stresses the importance of avoiding political debates and maintaining low profile. If approached by hostile locals, the responsible way to behave is to deescalate the situation, get away from the potential threat, and if necessary, request help from local police.
04/04/2026 – On Saturday (4), a customer attempted to pay for services at an aesthetic clinic in Barra da Tijuca using fake Pix transfer receipts. The total fraud amounted to over 5,000 reais, but the establishment quickly noticed that the funds were never actually credited to its account. Alerted by the management, officers from the 16th PD intervened just as the suspect was about to start a new procedure and arrested her in the act.
05/04/2026 – This Sunday (5), a man was seriously injured in a stabbing inside a grocery store on Conde de Bonfim Street, in Tijuca, North Zone. The assault was motivated by a fit of jealousy, as the perpetrator could not accept the victim’s relationship with a woman. Following the rapid intervention of the 6th BPM and the establishment of a security perimeter, the assailant confessed to the crime and was arrested in the act.
06/04/2026 – In the early hours of Monday (6), on Nossa Senhora de Copacabana Avenue, a man was stabbed while resisting an attempted robbery. The victim fought back against the assailant and, with the help of bystanders, managed to prevent the crime and subdue the attacker until the Military Police arrived.
06/04/2026 – On Monday (6), a 17-year-old girl was the victim of a violent sexual assault in the restroom of an establishment in Botafogo, South Rio. The suspect reportedly followed the teenager into the women’s stall, choked her to prevent resistance, and forced her into sexual acts despite her pleas. The crime occurred during a second date between the university student and the high schooler, who had met on social media; IML medical exams confirmed the assault and the bar manager’s testimony corroborated the victim’s shaken state. The alleged perpetrator was ultimately arrested in the act.
07/04/2026 – On Tuesday morning (7), approximately 250 military police officers conducted a major operation in the Parque União and Nova Holanda communities within the Complexo da Maré, North Rio. The mission, aimed at curbing cargo and vehicle theft, led to the discovery of a warehouse near Avenida Brasil containing 200 liters of “lança-perfume” (ether-based inhalant) and manufacturing equipment. Despite social media reports from residents regarding the sound of explosions, the police denied any active shootouts. The operation utilized armored vehicles and aircraft, resulting in the closure of 27 schools and disruptions to local health clinics, while those responsible for the illegal materials were arrested in the act.
07/04/2026 – On Tuesday (7), a Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPRJ) operation revealed that Military Police sergeants were using the 41st BPM (Irajá) as a storage site for weapons and drugs diverted from official seizures. Intercepted messages between Sergeants Ricardo da Silva Ferreira and Thiago Corrêa da Costa detailed the scheme, where seized weaponry was hidden in the battalion’s own lockers before being sold to criminal factions. In addition to the embezzlement, the investigation pointed to the planning of crimes alongside a third officer from the 14th BPM (Bangu), leading to the suspects being arrested in the act and the seizure of ammunition, cash, and ledgers.
07/04/2026 – On Tuesday (7), the Consumer Defense Police (Decon) arrested a doctor and a pharmacist during an inspection at the Origen Clinic in São Conrado, South Zone. At the assisted reproduction facility, officers found weight-loss pens prohibited by Anvisa, Indian hormones without domestic registration, and expired medications. The clinic owner and the technical manager were sent to the prison system and will be investigated for a potential illegal substance distribution ring originating from São Paulo, as both were arrested in the act.
07/04/2026 – On Tuesday afternoon (7), the Military Police carried out one of the largest drug seizures in Rio de Janeiro’s history, finding 48 tons of marijuana in the Complexo da Maré, North Rio. The cargo was hidden in a makeshift bunker on the roof of a factory in the Nova Holanda community and was located by K9 Battalion sniffer dogs. The operation, involving over 250 officers, also resulted in the seizure of four rifles and four pistols hidden nearby, while those responsible for the illegal material were arrested in the act.
08/04/2026 – On Wednesday (8), the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police launched a new phase of “Operation Rastreio,” targeting a criminal organization specialized in selling stolen and snatched cell phones. The group operated a physical store in Taquara, West Zone, and used front companies to issue invalid invoices in third parties’ names, giving a veneer of legality to devices sold below market prices. During the raid, DRCPIM agents executed 15 search and seizure warrants to recover devices and identify “straw men” used in money laundering, while those involved were arrested in the act.
08/04/2026 – On Wednesday (8), the Civil Police dismantled a Comando Vermelho “bunker” located in central Rio de Janeiro, resulting in the capture of three individuals linked to the Morro da Providência drug trade. The operation required the removal of a heavy steel door protecting the abandoned building on Leandro Martins Street, where the suspects managed a drug den operating in broad daylight. At the scene, officers seized significant quantities of cocaine, crack, marijuana, and solvents already prepared for distribution. This intervention, the second in a week in the same area, successfully disrupted a key logistical structure of the criminal faction, and the three men were arrested in the act.
09/04/2026 – On Thursday night (9), a violent carjacking was committed on Radialista Waldir Amaral Street, in the Maracanã neighborhood, in front of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). At least two armed individuals on a motorcycle intercepted a gray car, forcibly removing the driver and passenger under death threats. In addition to the vehicle, the criminals robbed the victims of their jewelry and personal belongings before fleeing, one driving the stolen car and the other on the motorcycle.
10/04/2026 – On Friday (10), a Moroccan national was detained on Ilha do Governador, North Zone, for use of a forged document. Following a report regarding a tourist with an irregular status, agents from the 37th PD conducted a raid at a neighborhood hotel. The woman presented a French passport, which was confirmed as counterfeit after immediate verification with French authorities. She admitted to purchasing the document for 3,000 euros in São Paulo, hoping to illegally migrate to Europe. The suspect was caught in the act and arrested, while the investigation continues to dismantle the international forgery network involved.
10/04/2026 – On Friday (10), a violent attempted murder followed by a hostage situation occurred in the Copacabana neighborhood. During a family dispute in an apartment on Barata Ribeiro Street, a man brandished a kitchen knife to threaten his sister; his nephew, an autistic young man, intervened and was stabbed in the abdomen. The attacker then held his mother and sister captive until civil police officers, alerted by screams, negotiated the release of the hostages.
10/04/2026 – On Friday (10), the Civil and Military police launched “Operation Pseudo Cacique” to dismantle a strategic alliance between the ADA and CV factions in the Realengo neighborhood, West Rio. The intervention targeted the Jardim Novo community, which had become a key route for territorial expansion and the trafficking of drugs, vehicles, and cargo. Investigators revealed that the criminals extorted local shopkeepers and violently controlled basic services (gas, water, internet).
11/04/2026 – On Saturday (11), Municipal Force agents conducted two separate interventions for theft in downtown Rio, resulting in the arrest of four individuals. In the first operation, the suspect was located using the tracker in the victim’s headphones; he was found carrying a backpack containing two laptops, a phone, a watch, and a gold chain. Later that evening, a group of three individuals was intercepted on a bus after stealing a taxi driver’s phone.
13/04/2026 – On Monday (13), two individuals belonging to a gang specialized in stealing jewelry and luxury items were intercepted by the Civil Police in the Ipanema neighborhood. Using the urban surveillance system, agents tracked the suspects from the city center to the South Zone, where they were apprehended with a stolen vehicle, a revolver, and stolen cell phones. The criminals, one of whose robberies on April 7 had been caught on camera and gone viral on social media, admitted to primarily targeting gold chains and luxury watches. Searches continue for a third accomplice.
13/04/2026 – On Monday (13), the Civil Police Bomb Squad (CORE) intervened on the Copacabana beach boardwalk to remove an explosive device found near the stage construction site for singer Shakira. The object, identified as a stun grenade (flashbang) hidden inside a delivery backpack, was safely neutralized according to standard protocols. Although it is a non-lethal device, the incident occurs as the city prepares to host millions of fans for the Colombian star’s free concert scheduled for May 2. Security has been heightened around the massive structure currently being assembled in front of the Copacabana Palace.
14/04/2026 – On Tuesday (14), an act of credit card fraud led to the arrest of a street vendor on Copacabana Beach. The individual attempted to charge a British tourist the exorbitant amount of R$ 10,000 for a meat skewer initially offered for R$ 100. According to the Specialized Tourist Support Police (Deat), the suspect used a tampered card machine to alter the value during the transaction. The man was intercepted by agents near Lifeguard Post 5 and caught in the act, while the investigation continues to identify accomplices involved in this fraud network targeting foreigners.
14/04/2026 – On Tuesday (14), an operation conducted by Civil Police at Madureira Park, in the North Zone, led to the dismantling of a luxury drug trafficking scheme. Two individuals were intercepted while carrying approximately two kilograms of “ice”, a highly concentrated and expensive cannabis derivative, with an estimated market value of R$ 100,000. According to the investigation, the drugs were intended for a delivery network supplying wealthy neighborhoods and private parties in the South Zone ahead of the upcoming holidays.
14/04/2026 – On Tuesday (14), a woman was detained in the Tijuca neighborhood, North Zone, after trespassing into a building while posing as a Federal Revenue agent. According to police reports, the suspect physically assaulted an individual inside the premises on Conde de Bonfim Street before attempting to flee through the parking lot. Alerted to the situation, Military Police officers managed to intercept her.
15/04/2026 – On Wednesday (15), the famous funk singer MC Poze do Rodo was caught in the act and arrested at his home in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, SouthWest Rio, as part of “Operation Narcofluxo”. This Federal Police crackdown targets a criminal network suspected of laundering over R$ 1.6 billion through illegal transactions and crypto-assets. The artist, already known for his alleged ties to the Red Command faction, was taken into custody alongside fellow singer MC Ryan SP, who was arrested on the São Paulo coast.
15/04/2026 – On Wednesday (15), a joint operation by the Civil and Military police was carried out in Complexo da Serrinha (Madureira) and Morro da Primavera (Cavalcante), in Rio’s North Zone. Part of “Operation Torniquete”, the action aimed to dismantle vehicle theft and chop-shop rings. During the intervention, agents discovered a luxury leisure area used by traffickers, featuring a swimming pool and a reinforced structure, decorated with symbols linked to the TCP faction leader, Álvaro Malaquias Santa Rosa, known as “Peixão”. Three suspects were caught in the act and arrested, including a man wanted for homicide, and 11 motorcycles along with one car were seized.
15/04/2026 – On Wednesday (15), a protest by delivery riders blocked Marechal Rondon Avenue in the Rocha neighborhood, North Rio. The demonstration was sparked by a heated dispute the previous night between a resident and a delivery worker who refused to bring the order directly to the building’s lobby. According to the rider, the woman threatened him with a firearm, while footage captured her kicking his helmet and bike keys. In response, the protesters damaged the building’s entrance.
15/04/2026 – On Wednesday (15), the body of 30-year-old Monalisa de Amorim Pereira, originally from Fortaleza, was discovered in the Cerro Corá community in Cosme Velho, South Zone. Missing since the previous Saturday, the victim was allegedly strangled at her boyfriend’s home after trying to end a relationship marked by abuse. The suspect, Bruno Lira de Lima, was caught in the act and arrested by Civil Police. Investigators revealed he had been a fugitive since 2023 for another femicide committed in Ceará against a former partner who, coincidentally, shared the same first name as the current victim.
16/04/2026 – On Thursday (16), a 16-year-old boy was detained by police in Méier, North Zone, during a nationwide operation against extremist online content. According to the investigation by Decradi (Racial Crimes and Intolerance Offenses Division), the teenager used the Discord platform to incite other minors to self-harm and plan violent attacks. Investigators discovered he was looking to acquire firearms, researching the construction of explosives, and had already ordered knives. The teenager, who was wearing a garment with hate speech in Russian at the time of his arrest, was placed in provisional juvenile detention by court order, while his electronic devices were seized to identify potential accomplices.
16/04/2026 – On Thursday morning (16), a 24-hour pharmacy in Rua Tirol, in the Pechincha neighborhood, Southwest Rio, was targeted in an armed robbery. Four criminals stormed the establishment to steal weight-loss injection pens, which are high-value medications. An off-duty firefighter witnessing the scene attempted to intervene, sparking an intense exchange of gunfire with the assailants. Although the perpetrators managed to flee with the stolen goods, no injuries were reported.
17/04/2026 – On Friday (17), a wanted poster was released for Thiago Naziel da Silva, 40, suspected of repeatedly raping a young woman between 2019 and 2023. The investigation by the Jacarepaguá Specialized Women’s Police Station (DEAM) in Rio’s West Zone reveals a particularly disturbing detail: the suspect’s father had already been convicted in 2015 for raping the same victim when she was a child. Currently a fugitive, the individual has a preventive arrest warrant against him, and authorities are calling on the public to provide any information so he can be located and arrested by police.
17/04/2026 – On Friday (17), teacher Guilherme Henrique Terra Abrantes was arrested in the act at his home in Campo Grande, West Zone, for the sexual abuse of several eight-year-old students at a private school in North Rio. The teacher exploited his position to impose physical exercises on the girls, using these poses to touch their private parts. The investigation, triggered by a child’s report to her aunt, revealed a systematic modus operandi disguised as school activities, leading to his immediate capture by officers from the 39th PD (Pavuna).
19/04/2026 – On Sunday (19), Rene Silva, founder of Voz das Comunidades, an NGO and community media outlet dedicated to social journalism in favelas, was the victim of an armed robbery outside his home in Complexo do Alemão. Two criminals on a motorcycle held him at gunpoint with a weapon to his head to steal his phone and password, just 24 hours after escaping a previous robbery attempt in downtown Rio. This trauma highlights the surge in local crime that the journalist has recently been denouncing.
20/04/2026 – This Monday (20), a major operation led by the Bahia Public Prosecutor’s Office, supported by Core (RJ Civil Police), triggered shootouts and closed Niemeyer Avenue in the Vidigal community, South Rio. The mission aimed to capture Comando Vermelho faction leaders operating in southern Bahia, one of whom managed to escape through a secret passage. During the heavy gunfire, approximately 200 tourists watching the sunrise were stranded atop Morro Dois Irmãos before being escorted to safety. A woman suspected of money laundering for the organization was caught in the act and arrested during the intervention.
21/04/2026 – On Tuesday (21), 51-year-old physician Simone Ferreira Alves was taken hostage and shot on the Transolímpica expressway in Jardim Sulacap, West Rio. While driving to work in her Samu uniform, her vehicle was intercepted by a fleeing criminal during a shootout between police and four suspects in a stolen car. The victim, shot in the back, underwent surgery and is in stable condition, while one of the attackers was caught in the act and arrested, and two others were wounded. This incident occurs amid a sharp rise in insecurity, with vehicle robberies jumping 30% in the Realengo area and over 80% across the city compared to the previous year.
22/04/2026 – On Wednesday (22), a 29-year-old entrepreneur was shot and killed during a Military Police stop in Pavuna, North Rio. While inside his own vehicle, the man was fatally struck in the head by shots fired by officers from the 41st BPM (Irajá). His family, in deep shock, denounced the excessive use of force, emphasizing that the victim had no criminal record.
22/04/2026 – On Wednesday (22), a motorcycle robbery attempt resulted in the death of one suspect and the injury of his accomplice on Borges de Medeiros Avenue in Lagoa, South Rio. The pair was reportedly shot by the occupants of a car who witnessed the crime. After being alerted by the robbery victim, Municipal Force officers found the suspects unconscious; one was already dead, while the injured accomplice was taken to Miguel Couto Hospital, where he remains under police custody. Authorities recovered a gold chain and R$ 5,180 in cash found with the duo.
22/04/2026 – On Wednesday (22), former Miss Bahia candidate Ana Luiza Mateus died after falling from a 13th-floor balcony in Barra da Tijuca following a violent domestic dispute. Her boyfriend was arrested after confessing to the murder, citing “sickly jealousy” as the motive. Police also revealed that the suspect attempted to tamper with the crime scene before his apprehension.
23/04/2026 – On Thursday (23), five people were shot during a Saint George’s Day celebration on Rua Pedro Borges, in the Para Pedro community of Irajá. Assailants on a motorcycle opened fire on the crowd before fleeing, witnesses link the shooting to a territorial dispute between drug traffickers. Among the hospitalized victims, police identified two individuals with criminal records, one of whom had an active warrant for his arrest.
23/04/2026 – On Thursday (23), a 52-year-old sergeant was killed during a robbery attempt on Rua Felisbelo Freire, in the Ramos neighborhood. A 25-year veteran of the Military Police, he died from his injuries after being rushed to Bonsucesso Hospital. The officer, who is survived by three children, was honored by his unit for his exemplary dedication throughout his career.
24/04/2026 – On Friday (24), a Belgian tourist was arrested at Galeão International Airport while attempting to flee to Colombia. He is accused of kidnapping and torturing a Canadian man for two days in a Centro apartment, using a knife to nearly amputate one of his fingers to extort $5,000. The victim, who had already paid the suspect CAD$35.000, managed to escape despite his injuries, while the assailant continued to send threats via message until his arrest.
24/04/2026 – On Friday (24), a patrol operation in the Vila Sapê favela in Curicica, West Zone, escalated into a shootout between military police and suspects. One man died from his injuries following the exchange of fire, while five others were arrested. During the raid, authorities seized two firearms, ammunition, radios, and drugs.
24/04/2026 – On Friday (24), fans of singer Luan Santana, camping outside Rio’s Olympic Park, in the Barra Olímpica neighborhood, Southwest Zone, for a concert scheduled for May 16, were victims of an armed robbery. Three men armed with knives slashed the tents during the night to steal the belongings of several fan club members. The shaken fans have filed a police report and are calling for increased security on the site.
25/04/2026 – On Saturday (25), a security camera captured an armed robbery in broad daylight on Rua General Glicério, in the Laranjeiras neighborhood, South Zone. In the middle of the afternoon, an individual wearing a motorcycle helmet held up a pedestrian in front of a residential building at number 326, violently ripping a chain from the victim’s neck as they tried to flee into the lobby. The criminal fled on a delivery motorcycle.
25/04/2026 – On Saturday (25), a medical student was arrested in the act at an elderly care clinic in Campo Grande, West Rio. She used the forged name and license number of a real physician to treat patients. Reported by the identity theft victim, the suspect was taken into custody by civil police for the illegal exercise of a profession and ideological forgery.
25/04/2026 – On Saturday (25), in Vicente de Carvalho, North Zone, a dispute between an app driver and his passenger over alleged car damage turned into an attempted murder. After the client tried to flee, the driver returned armed and fired two shots, missing the victim. The investigation eventually led to the suspect’s arrest on April 29 at his home in Jacarepaguá, Southwest Zone, where police seized the pistol used in the attack.
27/04/2026 – On Monday (27), Civil Police arrested a strategic member of the Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP) at a hospital in Downtown Rio. Identified as a key “warman” and the operational arm for the drug lord Peixão within the Complexo de Israel, the individual was responsible for armed actions and group security. Monitored for a month by intelligence services, he was apprehended under an outstanding warrant for drug trafficking while undergoing medical treatment.
27/04/2026 – On Monday (27), the Federal Revenue seized over R$ 130,000 in illegal merchandise at Galeão International Airport. The cargo, which included iPhone 17 Pro Max models, MacBooks, and imported perfumes, belonged to a passenger traveling from Foz do Iguaçu to Natal. Lacking invoices, the man confessed the items were for resale in the Northeast; he was detained, and the goods were fully confiscated.
27/04/2026 – On Monday (27), a gas station attendant was violently assaulted by a driver in Pedra de Guaratiba, West Zone. An argument broke out over the serving order in the fuel line, with the driver accusing the employee of prioritizing another vehicle. After punching the attendant in the face, the aggressor fled and the victim required medical attention.
28/04/2026 – On Tuesday (28), a Military Police operation in the Juramento community in Vicente de Carvalho, North Zone, resulted in one arrest and the seizure of a rifle. Conducted by the 41st BPM, the raid aimed to crack down on cargo and vehicle thefts in the area. Due to the instability, four schools suspended classes, and home-based medical activities were halted by local health services.
28/04/2026 – On Tuesday (28), the Special Operations Battalion (BOPE) launched an operation in Morro do Banco, Itanhangá, Southwest Zone, searching for clandestine cemeteries. This action followed intelligence from the Homicide Division suggesting that criminals have been using the community’s wooded areas to hide bodies.
28/04/2026 – On Tuesday (28), a man was caught in the act and arrested for stealing electric cables in the Cidade Nova neighborhood of Central Rio. Spotted by security cameras at a business on Correia Vasques Street, the suspect was intercepted by the 4th BPM with the stolen wires and pliers in his backpack.
28/04/2026 – On Tuesday (28), the Federal Police launched “Operation Mare Liberum” to dismantle a massive corruption ring within the Port of Rio. The investigation targets importers, customs brokers, and Federal Revenue officers who facilitated the illegal release of goods, involving approximately R$ 86.6 billion in potentially fraudulent products between 2021 and 2026. A total of 45 search warrants were executed, 25 public officials were suspended, and large amounts of cash were seized in Barra da Tijuca and Niterói.
28/04/2026 – On Tuesday (28), 28-year-old Marcus Vinícius Cerqueira Oliveira was shot dead during a robbery attempt in São Cristóvão, near the São Januário stadium, North Zone. The victim was returning from football practice with his 7-year-old son, who was in the back seat but remained uninjured. The father of two, described by his family as exemplary, died from his injuries in front of his son. The perpetrators fled.
29/04/2026 – On Wednesday (29), rapper Oruam, his mother, and his brother were targeted by a Civil Police operation against the financial arm of the Comando Vermelho. While arrest warrants are outstanding for money laundering, only operator Carlos Alexandre Martins da Silva has been captured so far. The investigation, result of a year-long effort, seeks to dismantle the system used to conceal drug trafficking proceeds.
29/04/2026 – On Wednesday (29), a man and a woman were killed during a clash between rival criminal factions in the Terreirão community, in Recreio dos Bandeirantes. According to the Military Police, the shootout occurred on Canal das Taxas Avenue; the man died at the scene, while the woman passed away at the hospital due to her injuries.
29/04/2026 – On Wednesday (29), an Army corporal was arrested for an attempted murder that took place on Friday (24) at a kiosk on Praia da Bica, Ilha do Governador. Following an argument with a customer, the soldier left the premises and returned armed, firing several shots at the victim, who was not hit. The investigation by the Civil Police, supported by security footage, revealed that the suspect already had a criminal record for illegal weapons possession and a prior attempted murder.
30/04/2026 – On Thursday (30), six buses were hijacked and used as barricades across the Campinho, Quintino, Piedade, and Cascadura neighborhoods in Rio’s North Zone. The vehicles were abandoned with their keys removed on Ernani Cardoso and Clarimundo de Melo Avenues, near the Morro do Fubá community, impacting eight bus lines. Military Police responded quickly to clear the roads and restore traffic flow. No police operation was active in the area at the time.
TRENDS & ADVICE
- Mass robberies and thefts in tourist spots are some of the most notorious security risks in Rio de Janeiro, especially in the city’s South Zone.
- When moving through crowded places and their vicinities, visitors should be cautious and refrain from exposing valuables.
- Avoid any display of wealth (jewelry, cell phones), but always carry a small amount of money (R$50) to hand over to muggers.
- In case of robbery: cooperate, do not try to run after the assailant as he or she might not be alone or turn violent.
- Rio is famous for its favelas, and most are affected by the presence of gangs. Disputes for territory between rivals and police operations lead to gunfights. Therefore, these locations should never be visited.
- Shootouts may also occur outside such communities, in this case:
- Lay on the ground and seek cover behind a solid object, such as the engine block.
- When it is safe to do so, find the nearest building, stay away from any windows, and do not move unless you are sure that the gunfire has ended.
- Shootouts may also occur outside such communities, in this case:
- Avoid walking alone in poorly lit areas or beaches after nightfall. Avoid walking/biking through tunnels, especially Túnel do Leme.
- As sexual aggressions are on the rise, women should pay special attention to the environments where they go alone and avoid empty and dark places.
- During a night out, never accept offers of food and beverages from strangers, and pay attention to yours, as they can add drugs to them.
- Men and women alike are targets of such crimes.
- Be always cautious, even in the areas considered safe, such as Downtown, Botafogo, Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and Barra da Tijuca.
- Exercise caution in the Centro (downtown) during the day and avoid the area after nightfall and during the weekends, as it is relatively deserted during such periods.
- Be careful when using the GPS, as it may lead you to unsafe areas controlled by organized crime.
- Remain on the main streets and roads and avoid the rush hours.
- Prefer cooperative taxis instead of driving yourself or using a ride-sharing App.
- Stay away from any protests that normally occur in Av. Presidente Vargas, Av. Rio Branco, Praça da Cinelândia, and Av. Atlântica.
- Attention to scams that may reach you through a WhatsApp message, e-mail, SMS, or a call.
- Keep in mind useful numbers: Emergency police number (190), and Rio de Janeiro tourist Police. Phone: (21) 2332-7949
