16/10/2026 – On Friday (16), two men were reported arrested in Rio de Janeiro for allegedly participating in a robbery scheme targeting ride-hailing drivers through fake female passenger profiles. According to investigators, the suspects used women’s accounts to request rides and avoid raising suspicion. During the trips, the criminals, often armed, threatened and assaulted drivers, forcing them to reveal their banking app passwords. The group then carried out unauthorized Pix transfers and took out loans in the victims’ names, causing losses exceeding R$7,000 in at least one case. Police have identified additional suspects, including two women allegedly responsible for requesting the rides. Investigations remain ongoing to locate other members of the group.
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16/10/2026 – On Friday (16), Rio de Janeiro’s Civil Police arrested Renan Reis de Carvalho, 41, for allegedly operating an illegal distribution network of weight-loss medications in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Rio de Janeiro’s Southwest Zone. The operation, conducted by officers from the 16th Police District (Barra da Tijuca) with intelligence support from the Brazilian Postal Service, resulted in the seizure of approximately R$2 million worth of unregistered medications. Investigators identified a commercial property used to store, package, and distribute the products to several Brazilian cities without authorization from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The suspect was arrested after mailing several packages and charged with crimes against public health. The seized products were sent for forensic analysis, while investigations continue to identify suppliers and other members of the distribution network.
16/10/2026 – On Friday (16), Brazil’s Federal Police (PF) arrested a 29-year-old fugitive wanted for currency counterfeiting, robbery, and illegal possession of a firearm in Taquara, Rio de Janeiro’s West Zone. The suspect was located inside a restaurant following intelligence investigations conducted by the Federal Police’s Fugitive Apprehension Group in Nova Iguaçu. Authorities executed two outstanding arrest warrants issued by the Rio de Janeiro State Court of Justice. Following his arrest, the man was transferred to the state’s prison system, where he remains in custody awaiting judicial proceedings.
16/10/2026 – On Friday (16), a Colombian ride-hailing motorcycle driver was allegedly kidnapped, assaulted, and held captive for three days by drug traffickers in Brás de Pina, Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, after being mistaken for a member of a rival criminal faction. The victim was finishing a ride on Francisco Soren Street, in the Quitungo area, when armed criminals reportedly approached him and took him to a nearby community. According to his account, he was tied up, beaten, deprived of food and water, and repeatedly threatened with death. During his disappearance, relatives paid R$900 to a man demanding money for his release. The driver escaped on Sunday night (18) and sought police assistance. His motorcycle and cellphone were stolen, and the case is being investigated by the 38th Police District (Brás de Pina).
17/10/2026 – On Saturday night (17), a shooting between rival criminal organizations in Madureira, Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, left one man dead and another seriously injured. According to residents, members of the Third Pure Command (TCP), which controls the area, exchanged gunfire with members of the rival Red Command (CV), leaving civilians caught in the crossfire. A delivery worker identified as Wendrel Silva da Rocha was struck by a stray bullet in the head and died after being taken to a local hospital. Another delivery worker, identified as Cláudio, was shot while delivering açaí in the Cajueiro community and remains hospitalized in serious condition. Videos shared on social media showed residents attempting to rescue the victims during the confrontation. As of the latest report, no arrests had been announced.
17/10/2026 – On Saturday (17), two visitors were arrested while attempting to smuggle marijuana and hashish into Nelson Hungria Prison, located in the Gericinó Penitentiary Complex, in Rio de Janeiro’s West Zone. According to the State Secretariat of Penitentiary Police (SEPPEN), officers discovered more than 1,200 packages of drugs concealed in portions of meat and beans intended for consumption during family visits. The suspects, a 55-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, were arrested on drug trafficking charges and taken to the 34th Police District (Bangu). The arrests were part of Operation Illicitus, aimed at preventing criminal organizations from operating within the prison system. Since August, the operation has resulted in the seizure of more than 1,500 cellphones and 32 kilograms of drugs, as well as the arrest of 20 visitors. Two prison officers have also been caught attempting to introduce or facilitate the entry of prohibited materials.
17/10/2026 – On Saturday (17), a man identified as Thiago de Mattos Teixeira was shot and killed following an argument on Mário Larrúbia Street, in Campo Grande, Rio de Janeiro’s West Zone. According to the Military Police, officers from the 27th Battalion responded to reports of gunfire and were informed that the victim had been shot after a disagreement. Thiago was taken to Oeste D’Or Hospital but died from his injuries. The Capital Homicide Division (DHC) is investigating the case, although authorities have not yet disclosed the circumstances of the dispute or identified the shooter.
18/10/2026 – On Sunday (18), Rio de Janeiro’s Civil Police arrested Camilly Duarte de Jesus during a funeral at Caju Cemetery, in the city’s Port Zone, on suspicion of torturing her partner’s former girlfriend. According to investigators, the crime occurred approximately two years ago in Manguinhos, Rio’s North Zone, following a dispute over a R$30,000 debt. The victim was allegedly lured to her former partner’s residence, where she was beaten with wooden objects and forcibly had her head shaved. Camilly, who had been hiding in the Nova Holanda community, in the Maré Complex, was located by officers from the 24th Police District (Piedade) and arrested under a preventive detention warrant. Her partner, André Luiz Anunciação de Arbuez, an alleged drug trafficker with previous robbery convictions and three outstanding arrest warrants, remains at large.
19/10/2026 – On Monday morning (19), Brazil’s Federal Police (PF) launched Operation Backbone against an illegal internet service monopoly controlled by the Red Command (CV) in the Alemão, Penha, and Chapadão complexes, in Rio de Janeiro. The operation resulted in at least 19 arrests, including Márcia Gama dos Santos Nepomuceno and Lucas Santos Nepomuceno, wife and son of imprisoned CV leader Marcinho VP. Authorities issued 23 arrest warrants and 24 search warrants, alongside orders to freeze up to R$558 million in assets linked to 40 individuals and 42 companies. According to investigators, the criminal organization sabotaged competing internet networks, threatened residents and businesses, and forced customers to use providers paying fees to the faction. In one month, these payments reportedly accounted for more than 40% of the group’s revenue in the Penha Complex. Investigators also identified suspected money laundering through event companies, luxury properties, and cryptocurrencies. The operation aims to dismantle the criminal network while ensuring continued internet access for affected communities.
19/10/2026 – On Monday night (19), Jefferson Dias da Silva, 51, known as “Jefferson da Linave,” was shot and killed by Military Police officers on Avenida Brasil, near the Marinha Mercante BRT station in Penha, Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone. The victim, a former city councilor and current Secretary of Economic Development of Queimados, was driving alone when officers from the 22nd Battalion (Maré) attempted to stop a vehicle. According to witnesses, Jefferson allegedly failed to comply with a police order to stop, prompting officers to open fire. Videos recorded by motorists show police shooting toward his car, which sustained multiple bullet impacts. The Capital Homicide Division (DHC) is investigating the circumstances, while the Military Police have seized the officers’ weapons and launched an internal investigation. Body camera footage will also be examined to determine the sequence of events and assess the officers’ conduct.
20/10/2026 – On Tuesday (20), a Military Police operation in the Serrinha Complex and the Primavera community, in Madureira, Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, resulted in the recovery of 11 vehicles and the removal of approximately six tons of barricades. The operation aimed to clear roads obstructed by criminal groups, restore access for residents, and improve mobility throughout the area. The recovered vehicles may also help investigators identify cases of theft and robbery. The report did not disclose whether any arrests were made or provide further details about the recovered vehicles.
21/10/2026 – On Wednesday morning (21), a shootout between Civil Police officers and a robbery suspect in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro’s South Zone, left one man dead and a woman injured. The confrontation occurred on São Clemente Street, near Morro Santa Marta, during an operation to arrest a suspect involved in the attempted robbery and shooting of 80-year-old archaeologist Tania Andrade Lima in Leblon the previous week. According to police, Luís Fernando Rodrigues dos Santos, 28, allegedly attempted to run over officers and opened fire when approached. Officers returned fire, killing him. Investigators identified Luís Fernando as a leader of a criminal group responsible for repeated robberies in the South Zone, with 27 previous police records. A woman accompanying him was injured by fragments and taken to a hospital. The incident caused temporary road closures and traffic congestion in Botafogo.
21/10/2026 – On Wednesday afternoon (21), Rio de Janeiro’s Civil Police arrested a man known as “Fumaça” during an operation targeting credit card fraud and criminal groups operating on Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, in the city’s South Zone. Officers from the Tourist Assistance Police Unit (DEAT) approached the suspect around 15h30 near Posto 4, in Copacabana, and found a cellphone flagged in police records. According to investigators, the man resisted arrest and physically assaulted an officer, injuring his left arm, before being restrained and taken to the police station. The suspect had previous police records involving fraud, extortion, criminal association, drug trafficking, smuggling, and disobedience. The operation was part of ongoing efforts to combat crime along Rio’s beachfront and improve security for residents and tourists.
21/10/2026 – On Wednesday (21), agents from Rio de Janeiro’s Segurança Presente program recaptured a man who had been a fugitive from the prison system since 2012, in Barra da Tijuca, in the city’s Southwest Zone. The suspect, who had been serving a sentence for drug trafficking at Edgar Costa Public Prison, was identified by the Integrated Command and Control Center (CICC) through facial recognition technology. Officers patrolling Avenida Armando Lombardi were alerted and approached the man, who failed to present identification and provided contradictory information. After verifying his identity and confirming his fugitive status, authorities transferred him to the 16th Police District (Barra da Tijuca), where he remained in custody awaiting judicial proceedings.
21/10/2026 – On Wednesday morning (21), Rio de Janeiro’s Civil Police launched an operation against the Celita Toledo aesthetic clinic in Laranjeiras, in the city’s South Zone, following the deaths of three patients and numerous complaints of injuries after cosmetic surgeries. According to investigators, 32 investigations have been opened, including reports from 24 women who suffered complications such as tissue necrosis, severe scarring, and permanent deformities. Police suspect that postgraduate students performed surgeries without proper medical supervision or patients’ consent. Officers executed four search warrants, seized expired medications, and shut down the clinic’s surgical center, canceling 15 procedures scheduled for that day. Two individuals were taken to the police station for questioning. The operation was supported by the Regional Medical Council (CREMERJ) and health surveillance authorities.
21/10/2026 – On Wednesday (21), Rio de Janeiro’s Civil Police arrested a couple suspected of drug trafficking inside an abandoned mansion on General Caldwell Street, in Lapa, downtown Rio de Janeiro. According to investigators, officers from the 5th Police District (Mem de Sá) were conducting an operation when they identified a man allegedly acting as a lookout at the property. Upon noticing the police presence, the two suspects attempted to flee but were pursued and arrested. During the search, officers seized substances believed to be marijuana, crack cocaine, and cocaine, along with a knife. The couple was taken to the police station and charged with drug trafficking and criminal association for drug trafficking.
21/10/2026 – On Wednesday (21), a pregnant woman was arrested while attempting to smuggle 180 grams of cocaine into Nelson Hungria Prison, located in the Gericinó Penitentiary Complex, in Bangu, Rio de Janeiro’s West Zone. According to the State Secretariat of Penitentiary Police (SEPPEN), officers from the Unified Entrance Control Unit (GPU) became suspicious of the woman’s nervous behavior while checking documents confirming her 37-week pregnancy. She admitted to concealing the drugs in her intimate areas and was taken to the 34th Police District (Bangu), where she was charged with drug trafficking. The arrest was part of Operation Illicitus, which has seized more than 1,600 cellphones and 35 kilograms of drugs since August, resulting in the arrest of 21 visitors. Two prison officers have also been caught attempting to introduce or facilitate the entry of prohibited materials into correctional facilities.
21/10/2026 – On Wednesday night (21), ride-hailing driver Luiz Fernando Santos, 46, was shot in the head while transporting a passenger in the Colônia area of Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro’s Southwest Zone. According to his wife, two armed men on a motorcycle allegedly opened fire after mistaking his vehicle for that of a local militiaman. Military Police officers from the 18th Battalion found the driver wounded inside his bullet-damaged car. He was initially taken to Lourenço Jorge Municipal Hospital before being transferred to Miguel Couto Municipal Hospital, where he remained in critical condition. The attack occurred in an area affected by territorial disputes between the Red Command (CV) and militia groups. The 32nd Police District (Taquara) is investigating the shooting and working to identify the perpetrators.
21/10/2026 – On Wednesday (21), a man had his cellphone stolen inside the Belmonte restaurant in Leblon, Rio de Janeiro’s South Zone. Security camera footage shows a suspect approaching the establishment and speaking with an employee near the entrance before suddenly grabbing a cellphone from a customer seated at a table inside. The victim attempted to chase the suspect but was unable to catch him. The restaurant is located at the corner of General Venâncio Flores Street, where an elderly woman was shot during a robbery the previous week. According to the Civil Police, the incident was reported to the local police station, and investigators are working to identify the suspect.
21/10/2026 – On Wednesday morning (21), Rio de Janeiro’s Military Police arrested two men and recovered a stolen motorcycle during an operation on Vila Aurora Street, in Curicica, in the city’s Southwest Zone. According to officers from the 18th Battalion (Jacarepaguá), the motorcycle had been reported stolen and displayed altered identification markings. During the search, police also seized two cellphones and three small packages of marijuana. The suspects and seized materials were taken to the 32nd Police District (Taquara), where the incident was registered. Both men remained in custody, while the motorcycle was submitted for further verification.
22/10/2026 – On Thursday morning (22), Rio de Janeiro’s Military Police launched an operation in the Campinho and Morro do Fubá communities, in the city’s North Zone, to remove barricades and combat criminal organizations. Conducted by officers from the 9th Battalion (Rocha Miranda), the operation also targeted illegal fees imposed on residents and businesses, sought to execute arrest warrants, and investigated reports of criminal activity. The area has been affected by territorial disputes between the Red Command (CV) and Third Pure Command (TCP), with the CV attempting to expand its control over territories historically associated with the TCP and militias. According to the Municipal Education Department, four schools were closed due to the ongoing operation.
22/10/2026 – On Thursday (22), Rio de Janeiro’s Civil Police reported the arrest of Igor Junio Andrade dos Santos in Copacabana, in the city’s South Zone, for allegedly drugging, robbing, and extorting men he met through dating apps. According to investigators, the suspect offered paid sexual services and allegedly used clonazepam to incapacitate victims before stealing their belongings and making unauthorized bank transfers. He also reportedly recorded intimate images and threatened to release them unless the victims paid him. Some victims reported sexual assaults involving violence and threats. Police arrested Igor as he prepared to meet another potential victim, seizing a bottle of clonazepam. Investigators identified suspected crimes in São Paulo, Santa Catarina, and Minas Gerais, where an outstanding arrest warrant for aggravated theft had been issued. The case is being investigated by the 15th Police District (Gávea) and involves allegations of aggravated robbery, sexual assault of vulnerable victims, and extortion.
22/10/2026 – On Thursday (22), Rio de Janeiro’s Penitentiary Police arrested Graça Maria Silva de Souza, director of the Oscar Stevenson Women’s Prison in Benfica, in the city’s North Zone, for allegedly diverting food supplies from the facility. Following a complaint and surveillance operation, officers from the Penitentiary Intelligence Subsecretariat (SSISPEN) and Internal Affairs Department inspected her vehicle parked near the prison and found meat, fish, chicken, sausages, dairy products, fruits, and other food items without supporting documentation. The director claimed the supplies were no longer needed by the prison and would be donated to a religious institution. She was taken to the 21st Police District (Bonsucesso), where she was arrested on embezzlement charges. Authorities immediately removed her from her position and launched disciplinary proceedings to investigate the alleged misconduct.
22/10/2026 – On Thursday night (22), two men were shot and killed and a third was injured in an armed attack on André Rocha Street, near the Biquinha community, in Taquara, Rio de Janeiro’s Southwest Zone. The victims were inside a car targeted by gunfire, leaving the vehicle with multiple bullet impacts. Military Police officers from the 18th Battalion (Jacarepaguá) found two men dead inside the vehicle, while the injured victim was taken to Lourenço Jorge Municipal Hospital, in Barra da Tijuca. The attack occurred in an area affected by territorial disputes between drug traffickers and militia groups, near where a ride-hailing driver had been shot in the head the previous night. Police confirmed that no operation was underway at the time of the shooting. The Capital Homicide Division (DHC) is investigating the case, although no arrests have been reported.
