04/04/2026 – On Saturday (4), two men were caught red-handed selling drugs at Anil Beach. The pair acted as a delivery service between beachgoers or bar patrons and sales points in the Morro da Fortaleza hills, receiving cash or drugs as payment. One of the suspects was a repeat offender who had already been detained in March for the same crime.
05/04/2026 – On Sunday (5), a man was shot dead in his bed in Itinga, in the Bracuí region. The investigation revealed that the crime followed a violent bar fight between the victim and the suspect, both of whom had criminal records and alleged ties to local organized crime. The perpetrator was arrested on Tuesday (7).
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07/04/2026 – On Tuesday (7), a 39-year-old metalworker was caught attempting to steal material from the Brasfels shipyard, in the Verolme neighborhood. The individual had cut seven meters of copper cable using a grinder and hid it inside his pants to leave the premises. This arrest is part of a new phase of Operation “Ferro-Velho,” led by the Civil Police to dismantle metal theft and fencing rings impacting local infrastructure. Thanks to the intelligence service’s vigilance and the company’s cooperation, the employee was arrested in the act.
07/04/2026 – On Tuesday (7), a high-ranking leader of the Comando Vermelho (CV) criminal faction was captured by the Civil Police during Operation “Sentinela” in Angra dos Reis. The 45-year-old individual, who controlled the strategic sectors of Manguinhos (Rio de Janeiro) and Porteira, in the Japuíba neighborhood, was a fugitive wanted for a final prison sentence of over seven years for drug trafficking. With a high-risk profile and 31 criminal records including murder and trafficking, he managed the resources and territorial organization of the local criminal group.
07/04/2026 – A Civil Police operation targeted a criminal group holed up in a residence in Parque Mambucaba on Tuesday (7). The intervention, aimed at executing arrest warrants for weapons-related crimes, triggered a shootout during which a police vehicle was hit before the suspects attempted to flee over roofs and through neighboring yards. Investigators seized 9mm ammunition and a pistol magazine, confirming the individuals’ involvement in local arms trafficking. Ultimately, two men and one woman were captured, while a fourth suspect, wounded during the clash, managed to escape.
09/04/2026 – On Thursday (9), a violent attempted murder occurred in the Morro da Lambicada. Following an argument between neighbors sparked by gossip, a man savagely attacked his neighbor. After an initial punch, the attacker used a machete and a knife to strike the victim on the head, neck, and chest. The victim only survived by throwing himself down a ravine to escape the relentless assault. The suspect, who has numerous prior records for domestic violence and assault, fled the scene.
16/04/2026 – On Thursday (16), a new phase of “Operation Sentinela” led by the Civil Police dismantled a drug distribution point in Morro do Santo Antônio. The intervention, targeting an area influenced by the Red Command (CV) faction, resulted in the arrest of two 20-year-old men and the detention of a 17-year-old minor serving as a lookout. At the scene, officers seized crack, cocaine, and marijuana, which featured the Jamaican flag on the packaging as a distinct faction brand. The suspects were caught in the act and arrested in a sector where the criminal organization ostentatiously marks its territory with faction acronyms spray-painted on community walls.
17/04/2026 – On Friday (17), Civil Police officers arrested a 27-year-old man in the Promorar (Grande Japuíba) neighborhood. During a routine operation, the suspect attempted to flee carrying a bag containing marijuana bricks, crack rocks, and cocaine, all marked with the Comando Vermelho initials. Investigators identified him as a “restocker”, responsible for transporting drug supplies to various sales points in the area.
18/04/2026 – On Saturday (18), the Military Police captured a 50-year-old fugitive at Proveta Beach, Ilha Grande. The individual was wanted under a final arrest warrant for drug trafficking, with a sentence of over 7 years to serve. Following intelligence work and anonymous tips, officers located the suspect, who offered no resistance during his arrest.
19/04/2026 – On Sunday (19), Civil Police arrested a 26-year-old homeless man responsible for a spree of residential and commercial burglaries. Between April 14 and 17, the suspect committed at least four thefts, including in the city center and the Balneário neighborhood, stealing cash and a cell phone. He was identified through security footage, which captured a distinctive tattoo on his neck.
20/04/2026 – On Monday (20), as part of Operation Sentinela, Civil Police officers dismantled a drug sales point in Morro da Fortaleza. Police caught the suspects during a shift change. A 19-year-old man was arrested, and two minors, aged 15 and 16, were apprehended. At the scene, authorities seized 253 doses of cocaine, 176 units of crack, 126 packets of marijuana, and cash. This operation aimed to secure the city center, which sees high tourist traffic during holiday periods.
20/04/2026 – On Monday (20), a 25-year-old woman was arrested for drug trafficking on Rua Rio Bonito, in the Japuíba neighborhood. During an operation by military police intelligence, she was caught with cocaine and cash. The suspect confessed to working for a local dealer before being taken to the precinct where she remains in custody.
21/04/2026 – On Tuesday (21), a joint operation between Civil and Military police dismantled a drug distribution point in Morro do Moreno. The raid, targeting a new Comando Vermelho (CV) setup at the end of Rua José Nicácio, resulted in the catch-in-the-act arrest of the site’s manager, a repeat offender. Officers seized a significant cache of narcotics—including cocaine, crack, marijuana, and skank—all branded with the criminal faction’s initials.
23/04/2026 – On Thursday (23), a 39-year-old fugitive belonging to the Comando Vermelho was captured on Rua Padre Antônio Muller, in the Monsuaba neighborhood. Wanted since December 2025 after escaping during an authorized semi-open release, the individual had previously evaded three police cordons. Following this joint Civil and Military police operation, he must now serve over ten years of his sentence in a closed prison regime for criminal association and drug trafficking.
24/04/2026 – On Friday (24), two men aged 24 and 31 were arrested in the Monsuaba neighborhood of Angra dos Reis with 180 packs of cigarettes stolen the previous day. Despite their claims, they were charged with receiving stolen property.
28/04/2026 – On Tuesday (28), as part of Operation Sentinela, Civil Police dismantled a drug sales point at Morro da Fortaleza. The operation revealed a Comando Vermelho strategy of recruiting young women with a clean-cut appearance to manage trafficking. Three suspects were detained: an 18-year-old woman and two minors, aged 16 and 17, both of whom were pregnant. Officers seized significant quantities of cocaine, crack, hashish, and marijuana, which were hidden in a sewer to evade police detection.
TRENDS & ADVICE
- Shootouts remain the main risk facing personnel in Angra dos Reis. Several security operations related to drug trafficking are also registered every week.
- If you find yourself in the immediate vicinity of a shootout:
- lay on the ground and seek a solid cover.
- If you are in your car, the engine block is a good barrier behind which you could seek protection.
- When it is safe to do so, find the nearest building, stay away from any windows, and do not move until the gunfire has clearly ended.
- Pay attention to the sounds of shots when driving through BR-101, which has on its margins many gang-controlled zones.
- Be cautious when in the vicinity of ‘communities’, particularly: Morro da Fortaleza, Parque Belém, Sapinhatuba I, Sapinhatuba II, Sapinhatuba III, Areal, Parque Mambucaba, Japuíba, Frade, Bracuí, Morro do Santo Antônio, and Morro da Glória I and II.
- Avoid stopping on BR-101 roadside, due to cases of robberies, especially in the most isolated areas and after nightfall.
- Be careful when walking downtown as there is a risk of property crimes, thefts, and robberies.
- Attention to scams that may reach you through a WhatsApp message, e-mail, SMS, or a call.
