The city of Cabedelo, in the state of Paraíba, has increasingly fallen under the influence of a criminal faction operating remotely from the Complexo do Alemão, in Rio de Janeiro — more than 2,000 kilometers away. Investigations conducted by the Federal Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office have already led to more than ten operations targeting corruption and organized crime in the municipality, which has a population of just over 60,000 residents. Authorities identified that the Red Command (CV) managed to infiltrate strategic sectors of the city administration and establish territorial control over several communities. According to investigators, the faction not only coordinates drug trafficking and armed actions but also interferes directly in the daily lives of residents and local political structures.
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Rio de Janeiro
According to the investigations, members of the Red Command (CV) monitor the routine of Cabedelo directly from the Complexo do Alemão favela, in Rio de Janeiro. Police obtained audio recordings and videos showing the structure used by the faction to remotely supervise activities in Paraíba. In one of the recordings, a criminal explains the monitoring scheme by saying: “There are 30 cameras in total.” Another member, while showing images from the surveillance system, states: “Hi, family. My perspective from here. Only peace and tranquility.” For investigators, the operation functions as a type of “organized crime home office,” where faction members use clandestine surveillance systems and digital communication to coordinate criminal activity from another state.
Leadership from Afar
The person identified as the leader of the operation is Flávio de Lima Monteiro, known as Fatoka. At 43 years old, he began his criminal trajectory in the Nova Okaida faction in Paraíba before founding Tropa do Amigão, considered one of the northeastern branches associated with the CV. Authorities say there are 13 arrest warrants against him for crimes including drug trafficking, homicide, and participation in organized crime. Fatoka was previously imprisoned in a maximum-security prison in Paraíba but escaped in September 2018 during a mass prison break involving 92 inmates and the use of explosives. Recaptured later, he obtained release under electronic monitoring in 2022. According to investigators, on the same day he received the ankle monitor, he broke the device and fled to Rio de Janeiro. Even while living in the Complexo do Alemão, police say he continues issuing orders remotely. Audio recordings obtained during the investigation allegedly reveal plans to expand criminal control into neighborhoods such as Bessa, in João Pessoa.
Residents Become Hostages
In several parts of Cabedelo, graffiti bearing references to Fatoka and CV marks areas considered under faction control. According to investigators and residents, the population increasingly lives under intimidation and fear. Images gathered during the investigations show groups of heavily armed men circulating through residential streets, firing shots into the air, and imposing territorial dominance. Authorities say the faction uses clandestine surveillance cameras — known locally as “beetles” — to monitor movements throughout the communities. Police also intercepted conversations in which orders were allegedly given against rivals. In one of the recordings, a member says: “Take him out, it’s about time.” Residents report that the armed presence and constant monitoring have transformed parts of the city into areas controlled by organized crime.
Camera Monitoring
Lieutenant Colonel Luiz Antônio, commander of the Military Police battalion in Paraíba, explained that the faction disguises surveillance cameras using electrical tape attached to utility poles or hidden inside painted metal pipes. According to him, police operations have focused on identifying and removing these devices, which are installed on poles, trees, rooftops, and private houses. Authorities say the surveillance network allows the faction to monitor police operations, rival groups, and even residents’ daily activities. Investigators also identified videos showing criminals overseeing community meetings and issuing warnings to local residents. In one recording, a trafficker says: “If you hear movement in your backyard during the early morning, it’s us walking through the favela. We are at war. We are present every night and every dawn to defend our lives and your lives.” Police believe the recordings illustrate how the faction attempts to impose authority and normalize its armed presence in the communities.
Infiltration in the City Hall
According to the investigations, the criminal organization expanded beyond territorial control and infiltrated the Cabedelo city administration as part of a logistical and financial structure. Authorities say the last four mayors of the municipality became targets of investigations related to corruption and organized crime. Former mayor Leto Viana resigned while imprisoned, André Coutinho had his mandate revoked by the Regional Electoral Court, Edvaldo Neto was removed from office 48 hours after the election, and Vitor Hugo was declared ineligible. Investigators allege that the scheme involved the distribution of public positions, kickback payments, and the use of the company Lemon Terceirização e Serviços Ltda. to divert public funds. The estimated losses to the municipal administration reach R$ 270 million. According to prosecutors, the company facilitated the hiring of relatives and associates linked to the faction within city hall and the municipal legislature, while ghost employees allegedly redirected salaries toward illicit activities. During the same period, public infrastructure such as sports courts and health facilities reportedly remained abandoned or underutilized.
Fugitive
According to investigators, Fatoka considers Rio de Janeiro’s favelas the safest refuge for fugitives, including those under electronic monitoring. In one intercepted recording, he allegedly states: “Some partners also escaped wearing ankle monitors. They’re around here. That’s the safest place. Nobody is going inside the favela after them.” Public Security Secretary Victor dos Santos described the situation as a reflection of the historic absence of the state in certain territories dominated by organized crime. Official data also indicate an increase in fugitives from other states hiding in Rio de Janeiro. The number of arrests involving fugitives from outside the state rose from 677 in 2022 to 1,105 in 2025. According to authorities, many of these individuals are required to perform tasks for the CV leadership while sheltered in Rio’s favelas, including armed security duties in wooded and strategic areas controlled by the faction.
Analysis:
The situation in Cabedelo illustrates the growing sophistication and territorial flexibility of organized crime in Brazil. The ability of the Red Command to coordinate operations remotely from Rio de Janeiro demonstrates how criminal factions increasingly function through decentralized and technologically supported networks rather than strictly localized structures. The use of surveillance cameras, encrypted communication, and remote command systems allows leaders to maintain operational control across state borders while reducing their direct exposure to law enforcement.
The case also demonstrates how criminal organizations seek to consolidate power not only through violence but through institutional infiltration and social control. The investigations involving city hall, public contracts, and the alleged diversion of municipal resources indicate that the faction’s influence extends into political and administrative structures, creating conditions that weaken state capacity and reinforce criminal governance.
