In 2025, Rio de Janeiro’s Disque Denúncia recorded over 135,000 anonymous reports, a 45.5% increase from the previous year, fueled by its return to 24-hour operations. Reports of violence against women surged by 52.4%, with 1,390 cases handled, including 565 related to rape and 81 concerning the violation of protective orders. The platform’s data led to 1,816 arrests, the seizure of 10 tons of drugs, and a significant doubling of confiscated rifles, which rose from 177 in 2024 to 369 in 2025.
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01/01/2026 – A French tourist was victimized by the theft of his cellphone during New Year’s Eve in Copacabana and subsequently targeted in an extortion plot where the criminal demanded R$ 1,500 for the device’s return. The victim faced continuous threats and harassment until January 4, 2026, when specialized tourism police (Deat) tracked the suspect to Nossa Senhora de Copacabana Avenue. There, officers caught the 25-year-old man in the act of making a fresh threat, leading to his immediate arrest and the successful recovery of the stolen phone.
02/01/2026 – On Friday evening (2), a 58-year-old bricklayer was struck by a stray bullet in the Nova Cidade community in the Inhoaíba neighborhood, West Zone. The victim was sitting by his front door when a confrontation between criminals broke out, and a projectile pierced his lung; he was rushed to Rocha Faria Municipal Hospital and underwent surgery but passed away on Sunday (4). A second unidentified man was also wounded in the same shooting, and local authorities are investigating the origin of the gunfire.
02/01/2025 – On Friday (2), a man was arrested in Sepetiba, West Zone, after being a fugitive for the 2021 torture of his one-year-old son. The child had been hospitalized with three broken ribs, internal injuries, and burns from a red-hot spoon after being kicked and stomped on by the perpetrator. Civil police tracked the man to a residence through digital monitoring, and he was taken into custody to serve a final sentence of four years and eight months in a closed regime.
04/01/2026 – On Sunday (4), a Military Police operation targeting the Cajueiro and Serrinha communities in Madureira resulted in the arrest of five suspects following an intense shootout. Officers from the 9th BPM (Rocha Miranda) were deployed to investigate reports of inter-faction fighting when they were met with gunfire. During the raid, police seized two rifles, ammunition, radio transmitters, and over 400 packages of marijuana and cocaine. Security remains heightened in the area to prevent further territorial disputes between rival gangs.
04/01/2026 – On Sunday morning (4), residents of Complexo do Chapadão faced high tension as Military Police officers from the 41st BPM (Irajá) carried out patrols to curb drug trafficking. Criminals from the Red Command faction set fire to trash bins on Chrisóstomo Pimentel de Oliveira Avenue to block police armored vehicles, creating thick clouds of smoke. Despite intense gunfire reported by locals, authorities cleared the barricades with no reported arrests or injuries. This area remains a volatile conflict zone due to ongoing territorial disputes between the Red Command and the rival Third Pure Command.
04/01/2026 – On Sunday (4), in Copacabana, South Zone, high-value commercial goods, including imported whiskey, were stolen from local supermarkets by four foreign nationals. Security footage captured two Argentine men and two Spanish women concealing various products in their bags across different establishments before they were intercepted. Following the thefts, civil police officers arrested the group as part of “Operation Counterstrike,” charging them with aggravated theft and notifying their respective consulates.
04/01/2026 – On Sunday (4), a 22-year-old woman died after being admitted to the Jardim Novo UPA in the Realengo neighborhood, North Zone, with signs of severe physical assault. The victim, identified as the daughter of a Military Police major, arrived at the health unit already deceased, prompting an immediate police response.
04/01/2026 – On Sunday afternoon (4), on Galeão Road on Ilha do Governador, a man was arrested in flagrante for operating as a fraudulent parking attendant near a local restaurant. Investigations by the 37th DP revealed that the suspect used severe threats to extort drivers into paying for public street parking and even intentionally damaged the vehicle of a motorist who refused his demands.
05/01/2026 – On Monday (5), on Major Ávila Street in the Tijuca neighborhood, North Zone, a man was arrested for breaking into and vandalizing the historical Leitão da Cunha Municipal School. The suspect, who has 14 prior theft convictions, attempted to steal a television, an air conditioner, and aluminum doors just weeks after the school reopened following a major fire. Local authorities intercepted the criminal during the early hours, recovering several stolen items and confirming that the school’s high-tech equipment was the likely target during the summer break.
05/01/2026 – On Monday afternoon (5), a woman was struck by a stray bullet at the Assaí Atacadista in Cordovil, located at the Trevo das Missões in North Rio. The victim was inside the supermarket when she was grazed by the projectile; she received immediate assistance from customers and staff before being transported to the hospital. The Civil Police are currently conducting investigations at the 38th Police Precinct.
05/01/2025 – On Monday (5), Detran RJ and the State Secretariat of Finance (Sefaz-RJ) issued a high-priority alert regarding sophisticated IPVA tax and traffic fine scams. Criminal organizations are utilizing fraudulent websites and sending fake email or SMS notifications to trick vehicle owners into paying counterfeit bank slips. Authorities emphasized that official fine notifications are sent exclusively by registered mail and IPVA payments must only be processed through the official Sefaz hotsite or Bradesco’s portal, warning that clicking fraudulent links can lead to both financial loss and data theft.
05/01/2026 – On Monday morning (5), in the the Tijuquinha community in Itanhangá, Southwest Zone, Military Police officers were met with heavy gunfire during a targeted operation. Agents from the 31st BPM (Recreio dos Bandeirantes) entered the neighborhood following reports of armed criminals and engaged in a confrontation with local suspects. Despite the exchange of fire, no arrests or injuries were reported, but police successfully seized a 5.56mm rifle, four radio transmitters, ammunition, and dozens of drug packages, subsequently referring the case to the 16th Police Precinct.
05/01/2026 – On Monday afternoon (5), an intense shootout between Military Police and criminals in the Complexo da Pedreira, in Pavuna, North Zone, left two suspects dead and one in custody. Officers from the 41st BPM (Irajá) were patrolling the North Rio community when they were ambushed, triggering a clash that required the deployment of armored vehicles. The two wounded suspects were transported to Carlos Chagas Hospital but succumbed to their injuries; following the confrontation, police seized two rifles, a pistol, and a significant quantity of drugs, processing the case at the 39th Police Precinct.
05/01/2026 – On Monday (5), two men were arrested in Barra da Tijuca, West Zone, for their involvement in a specialized criminal ring that stole luxury vehicles for drug traffickers in the Complexo da Maré. Officers from the 15th DP intercepted the suspects on Lúcio Costa Avenue as they attempted to break into a parked car using high-tech electronic decoders and key emulators. Investigations revealed that the gang received technical training from criminal factions to bypass security systems in under three minutes, selling the vehicles for up to R$ 20,000 to be exchanged for drugs and weapons or dismantled for parts.
06/01/2026 – On Tuesday (6), a man was arrested in Santa Cruz, West Zone, after being sentenced to over 52 years in prison for the sexual abuse of his two stepdaughters. The crimes occurred between 2010 and 2015, beginning when each girl was only 9 years old, and were kept secret through intimidation.
07/01/2026 – On Wednesday morning (7), a 28-year-old woman named Marcelly Lorrayne da Silva Passos was fatally stabbed by her ex-boyfriend near the Nilton Santos Stadium in Engenho de Dentro, North Rio. The attacker was shot and wounded by a retired security agent who witnessed the femicide and intervened. The suspect, who had reportedly called the victim’s father the previous day seeking reconciliation, was arrested by the 3rd BPM and remains in stable condition under police custody at a local hospital.
07/01/2026 – On Wednesday afternoon (7), police arrested a 31-year-old woman for posing as a federal tax agent to rob elderly residents in Tijuca. She targeted victims aged 80 to 90, falsely claiming they owed back taxes to enter their apartments and steal jewelry. Officers from the 6th BPM caught her mid-attempt at a residential building, recovering gold rings, necklaces, and pearls valued at approximately R$ 34,000.
07/01/2026 – On Wednesday (7), Civil Police arrested a 30-year-old man for attempted murder at a nightclub in Copacabana. The incident occurred on December 5, 2025, after the suspect reportedly became enraged when a Chilean man kissed his forehead during a friendly gesture. The attacker fired five shots at the victim, striking his chest, abdomen, and pelvis, and then assaulted a club employee to force his escape. He was identified after dropping his mobile phone at the scene while fleeing.
08/01/2026 – On Thursday morning (8), a massive operation involving 520 police officers and 11 armored vehicles targeted the Third Pure Command faction in Vila Aliança and Senador Camará (North Zone) to combat cargo and luxury car thefts. The action led to one detention and forced the closure of local health clinics and bus route diversions. Simultaneously, an intense shootout broke out in Morro do Turano after criminals attacked a police unit, with stray bullets reportedly hitting nearby residential apartments.
08/01/2026 – On Thursday (8), a man was executed in the Catiri community, Bangu, after his car was targeted by more than 20 gunshots. This attack occurred just one day after the arrest of a local Red Command leader accused of sabotaging electricity and internet services in the area. The region remains a violent “lawless land” due to ongoing territorial disputes between drug traffickers and militias, leaving residents to face constant shootouts and extortion.
