Rio de Janeiro state deputy Val Ceasa (PRD) was one of the targets of an operation carried out on Thursday (18/06) by the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police and the Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPRJ) against public officials suspected of maintaining ties to the Third Pure Command (TCP), the second-largest drug trafficking faction in the state. Former Rio de Janeiro city councilman Ulisses Marins (PSD) and a former parliamentary aide were also targeted by search warrants. In total, authorities executed 14 search and seizure warrants issued by the Special Body of the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice, including one at the headquarters of the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly (Alerj). According to investigators, the suspects allegedly intervened in an effort to prevent the demolition of a luxury property linked to the faction’s leader. As a result of these actions, the police operation planned to demolish the site was reportedly postponed.
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Two Arrested
Two individuals were arrested in flagrante delicto during the operation. At Val Ceasa’s residence, investigators seized approximately R$166,000 in cash. Authorities also recovered an additional R$150,000 at other properties associated with the state deputy.
Action to Save the “Resort”
According to the task force, evidence indicates that the public officials under investigation attempted to influence the Military Police to prevent the demolition of luxury properties allegedly belonging to the TCP. Among them was the “Resort Green,” a property associated with Álvaro Malaquias Santa Rosa, known as Peixão, the faction’s leader. Located in an environmental preservation area in Parada de Lucas, within the Complexo de Israel, the property featured swimming pools, landscaped recreational areas, and an artificial lake used for raising carp. Prosecutors allege that the individuals under investigation sought to justify preserving the site by claiming it would be used for social assistance activities.
Banner at the Entrance
Discussions regarding the demolition of Peixão’s resort had been taking place since November 29, 2023, involving representatives from the Military Police, Rio de Janeiro City Hall, and the MPRJ. The operation was eventually scheduled for December 14 of that year. However, according to an internal report from the Municipal Secretariat of Public Order (Seop), the plans were leaked, and several elected officials contacted the Military Police command claiming that the properties were being used for projects benefiting children and elderly residents. Investigators state that Val Ceasa and Ulisses Marins contacted officers from the 16th Military Police Battalion (Olaria) to request that the property not be demolished, arguing that it housed a social initiative. When authorities inspected the site, they found a banner at the entrance promoting a “social project for children and senior citizens” associated with federal deputy Dani Cunha, Ulisses Marins, and Val Ceasa.
Champion of Votes
The electoral influence of Val Ceasa and Ulisses Marins in areas controlled by Peixão is reflected in voting patterns across the region. An analysis conducted by GLOBO of polling stations located in Vigário Geral, Cordovil, Parada de Lucas, and Brás de Pina—neighborhoods that form part of the Complexo de Israel—showed that both politicians consistently ranked among the most voted candidates in local elections. In the 2024 municipal election, despite failing to secure reelection as city councilman, Marins was the most voted candidate in 22 of the 32 polling locations examined. Of his 17,858 votes, approximately 10,000 came from electoral zones within the region. Similarly, during the 2022 state election, Val Ceasa led the vote count in 30 of the 33 polling locations analyzed. Even in the areas where he did not finish first, he consistently ranked among the three most voted candidates.
Other Operations
The operation carried out by the MPRJ against Val Ceasa and Ulisses Marins has once again placed the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly (Alerj) at the center of investigations involving alleged criminal influence over public institutions. However, this is not the first case of its kind. In 2025, the Federal Police executed search warrants at Alerj during Operation Zargun, which resulted in the arrest of then-state deputy TH Joias. According to investigators, he allegedly acted as a political and financial intermediary for the Red Command (CV), maintaining contacts with drug traffickers, police officers, and public officials in support of the criminal organization’s interests.
Analysis:
The investigation involving state deputy Val Ceasa and former councilman Ulisses Marins reflects a recurring challenge in Rio de Janeiro’s public security: the intersection between organized crime and political influence. According to the allegations, the issue extends beyond direct criminal activity and involves attempts to use political authority and social legitimacy to protect assets linked to a major trafficking organization. If proven, such actions would demonstrate how criminal groups increasingly seek not only territorial control but also political protection capable of obstructing law enforcement operations and preserving strategic resources. This type of relationship can be particularly valuable for criminal organizations because it allows them to reduce operational risks while expanding their influence within formal institutions.
