The Rio de Janeiro Civil Police launched Operation Rota das Sombras on Friday (08/08), targeting an illegal transportation scheme run by the Red Command (CV) in Vila Kennedy, Bangu, in the city’s West Zone. Investigations revealed that at least 300 motorcycle taxi drivers were coerced into installing an app developed by the faction. Estimates indicate that the CV-controlled app generated R$1 million per month. During this period, official platforms such as Uber and 99 were prohibited from operating in the area, leaving residents with no alternative but to download the gang-controlled app.
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Slogan
The service, called Rotax Mobili, operated for three months and was removed from the Google Play and Apple Stores a month ago. While active, it prevented regular ride-hailing apps from functioning in the controlled areas, forcing residents to use the platform managed by the Red Command (CV) and the rival faction Friends of Friends (ADA). Registered motorcycle taxi drivers could accept rides from within the community to any destination in the city, while every route and personal data of the workers were monitored by the traffickers. Informally, the app was presented by the gangs as “the only one that passes through the barricade and drops you off at your door.”
Compelled Drivers
According to Chief Alexandre Cardoso, head of the 34th Precinct (Bangu), the gang aimed to register over 1,000 professionals. Motorcycle taxi drivers were required to participate, pay a fee to install the app, and contribute a portion of the ride proceeds to finance the gang’s drug trade. Drivers who attempted to use other transportation apps were prohibited from operating in the region, reinforcing the gang’s exclusive control.
Organized Groups
Investigations showed that the criminal operation was highly structured, with two distinct groups: one responsible for intimidating and controlling the drivers through threats and extortion, and another tasked with receiving and managing the funds, which were then fully transferred to the local drug lord. To obscure the illicit origin of the money, the faction used shell companies, giving the app a semblance of legality.
Double the Price
Motorcycle taxi rides on the CV-created app in Vila Kennedy could cost up to twice the fare of regular platforms. A Civil Police simulation of a route between Avenida Rio Branco and Rua da Assembleia in the city center showed a cost of R$35.90 on the “crime app,” compared to R$15.96 on a conventional platform. For each trip, 20% to 30% of the fare was funneled directly to the gang, in addition to a mandatory monthly fee paid by the drivers in the community.
Broad Agreement
“Rotax Mobili” was established following a strategic meeting earlier this year between Edgar Alves de Andrade, known as Doca, a CV leader, and Celso Luís Rodrigues, known as Celsinho da Vila Vintém, head of ADA. Final authorization came from Jorge Alexandre Cândido Maria, known as Sombra, the CV leader in Vila Kennedy. Shell companies were used to operate the app and create an appearance of legality. According to police, the platform was part of a wider agreement between the two gangs to expand criminal activities, including control over alternative transportation, primarily in the West Zone, with plans to extend operations to Rocinha in the South Zone.
Analysis:
The case of Rotax Mobili illustrates how organized criminal groups in Rio de Janeiro are increasingly diversifying their revenue streams beyond traditional drug trafficking, exploiting technological tools and monopolistic control over local services. By coercing motorcycle taxi drivers to use a gang-controlled app, the Red Command (CV) and its allies were able to generate substantial, recurring income while simultaneously restricting access to legitimate platforms like Uber and 99.
The inflated fares charged through the app, coupled with mandatory payments from drivers, reveal the economic impact on both consumers and service providers, while also reinforcing the gang’s influence in the community. Furthermore, the coordination between rival factions, CV and ADA, signals a pragmatic approach to territorial control and revenue generation, suggesting that criminal alliances are flexible and opportunistic, prioritizing profit over traditional rivalries.
Sources: Extra [1], [2], [3]; G1; A Folha de SP.
