04/02/2024 – Three managers of the drug traffic in Minas Gerais were arrested in Sepetiba, West RJ, by a joint operation between the Civil Police of both states (RJ/MG). According to the police, the bandits´ gang is an ally of the Comando Vermelho. The criminals oversaw the logistics of the traffic such as the purchase, sales, and transport. One of their specialties was to transport the drugs in hearses, coffins, and even corpses. The group was also wanted for various homicides and curfews in a town of Minas Gerais.
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05/02/2024 – Lead security of fugitive high-scale militiaman was arrested in Sepetiba, West RJ. According to the police, the officers intervened upon a denouncement call and met armed bandits at the entrance of a ballroom. The suspects ran away when they saw the police arrive, but the officers went behind and caught the man with a pistol and a walkie-talkie. To the press, he confirmed he is the lead security of the fugitive militiaman and has 2 open warrants. He is also the intermediate of the organization´s weapons trade.
08/02/2024 – Gang masquerade as to be the Federal Highway Police (PRF) and send fake fine messages. The Corporation perceived the facts by intel social media and receiving reports. According to the PRF, the facts do not concern only RJ, but the entire country. The PRF also remind that they do not send any fine via messages applications or e-mails.
08/02/2024 – Emergency joint operation between PM and Civil Police in Nova Holanda slum, Complexo da Maré, North RJ, ended with an intense shootout. According to the Corporation, the intervention forces were activated to find a stolen stork truck with high-brand cars. According to the inhabitants of the slum, there was an intense shootout. Until the publication of the article, the police found 9 cars and 4 motorcycles.
08/02/2024 – A man died after being shot point blank amid a protest against the emergency joint operation of PM and PC in Nova Holanda, North RJ. According to videos published on social media, a police officer walked towards the victim and tried to hit him with his rifle. In the confusion of the action, the shot was fired. The victim was rescued by fellow protesters but arrived dead at the hospital. Homicide Department opened an investigation.
10/02/2024 – Seven men were arrested with an arsenal on Avenida Brasil in Vila Kennedy, West RJ. The police received anonymous information that bandits from Complexo da Maré were going to the West Area of RJ. After an encirclement in Vila Kennedy, the officers arrested 7 men in a car and seized 4 rifles, ammunition, drugs, walkie-talkies and tactical gear.
12/02/2024 – Famous journalist was shot during a robbery attempt in Gardênia Azul, West Zone of RJ. According to her staff, she and her husband were getting out of the Sambadrome by taxi when bandits shot twice at them. She received a bullet in the hip and was immediately taken to the ER. She is now out of danger. The investigation is in progress.
13/02/2024 – Twenty victims denounced the sister of a famous ex-football star for falsified Sambadrome passes. The police caught the woman at her residence in Jacarepagua, West RJ. She was already known from the State Department of Justice as she was condemned in 2022 for having frauded entry passes of the Rock In Rio event. The police placed her in custody.
13/02/2024 – An intense shootout between rival gangs, in a slum in Pedra de Guaratiba, West RJ, left 4 wounded including a 9yo child. According to the police, the Corporation has not been called. The ERS went to the slum after the shootout to rescue the 4 victims. The 9yo girl was severely wounded in the chest. She went into surgery and her state of health is considered serious.
13/02/2024 – A 26yo man was shot dead in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, West RJ. According to the police, the victim was returning home with his girlfriend when a bandit robbed them. The couple reacted and the criminal shot first the woman at her legs. As the man was still fighting, the bandit shot 3 times at him and ran away after taking the victim´s cell phone. The victims were rescued by the ERS and taken to the hospital. The woman was healed and discharged. Yet, the man died from his wounds.
15/02/2024 – Police realized an emergency operation in Cidade de Deus, West RJ. According to the police, the operation was to intervene in the war between gangs and militia. According to witnesses, an intense shootout and burning barricades received the officers. A clinic and schools had to stay closed. According to the police, 3 suspects were arrested with an important quantity of drugs.
15/02/2024 – A couple was robbed in Avenida Brasil, in Bonsucesso, North RJ. The bandits were on a motorcycle when they moto-jacked the couple. The action was caught red-handed by a press helicopter. Also, a police patrol car was near the spot and got back the stolen motorcycle at an entrance to the Nova Holanda slum, in Complexo da Maré.
16/02/2024 – A fugitive was arrested on a stolen electric bike in Lagoa, South RJ. According to the police, the man was a member of a high-middle-class gang of international drug trafficking. He escaped in 2021 from the State prison in Bangu, West RJ, where he was jailed since 2009. The man was taken to the precinct where he was charged with fencing and fugitive recapture.
16/02/2024 – Amid a gang war, Comando Vermelho (CV) troops tried to invade their neighbor rival Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP) and met in the middle in Costa Barros, North RJ. Besides the intense shootout, one of the clashes involved the arson of a bus. According to videos recorded by residents of the district, various armed men tactically maneuvered the streets of the district. According to the police, despite the violent shootout, there is no record of fatalities. The Corporation intensified its presence in the area.
17/02/2024 – A man died during a robbery attempt on Linha Vermelha in Ilha do Fundão, North RJ. According to the police, various bandits with rifles and pistols surrendered various vehicles on the interchange between Linha Vermelha and Linha Amarela. During the robbery, one of the robbed cars was of an off-duty cop who reacted. During the shootout, a 22yo civilian was wounded in the belly. He was taken to the ER but trespassed at the hospital.
21/02/2024 – One suspect died and 2 wounded during a police operation in Vila Kennedy, West RJ. According to the Corporation, the operation was to repress organized crime in the region and respond to the shootout that occurred in Catiri on 19/02/2024. During the operation, one bandit died and 2 were wounded, a 4th was arrested. In all, the police seized pistols, hand grenades, walkie-talkies, and drugs. The police also destroyed barricades.
23/02/2024 – A 32yo woman was shot dead in a store in Guaratiba, West RJ. According to witnesses, 2 militiamen entered the shop and were racketing the victim. As she did not pay the “security tax” the bandits hot at her. She died on the local.
25/02/2024 – A 20yo off-duty soldier was murdered in Manguinhos, North RJ. According to witnesses, the young man was with friends in a barbershop when an apparently drunk man started a discussion with the group. Then, he grabbed a gun and shot various times at the young soldier. Thanks to the witnesses, the detectives already identified the assassin.
26/02/2024 – A police officer was wounded in the head in Irajá, North RJ, as he reacted to a robbery. According to witnesses, he was in his car when 2 bandits on a motorcycle announced the robbery. As he reacted, he was shot in the head. The bandits fled without taking anything from their victim. The cop has been rescued to the hospital in a severe condition of health.
26/02/2024 – A lawyer was executed in the Centre of RJ. According to the police, the victim was walking by the sidewalk with a colleague when a man got out of a car and went directly to him. Witnesses told the detectives the victim was named by the bandit before the execution. According to the first elements of the investigation, the assassin took only 14 seconds to commit the crime.
29/02/2024 – Two detectives were arrested in Taquara, West RJ, for the invasion and burglary of a house in Vaz Lobo, North RJ. According to the investigation, the agents went by the end of January 2024 to check a denouncement call about a traffic of abortion pills. Not finding the suspect, the detectives went to the address of the reporter and invaded his house. There, they stole R$ 9k, a pistol and its documents, a wedding ring, and his driving license. The detectives have been suspended from their functions and their gun licenses. They also have been charged with armed criminal association, authority abuse, theft, and peculation.
TRENDS & ADVICE
- During summer months, mass robberies and thefts in touristic spots become the most prevalent security risks in Rio de Janeiro, specially in the city’s South Zone.
- Crowded beaches and its vicinities should be avoided.
- Avoid any display of wealth (jewelry, cell phones), but always carry a small amount of money (R$50) to hand over to muggers.
- In case of robbery: cooperate, do not try to run after the assailant as he or she might not be alone or turn violent.
- In the case of being in the immediate vicinity of a shootout:
- Lay on the ground and seek cover.
- When it is safe to do so, find the nearest building, stay away from windows, do not move unless you are sure that the gunfire has ended.
- Avoid walking alone in poorly lit areas or beaches after nightfall. Avoid walking through tunnels.
- Avoid the vicinity of crime-prone areas such as ‘communities’ (so-called ‘favelas’) and lower-income neighborhoods.
- Be always cautious, even in the areas considered safe such as Downtown, Botafogo, Copacabana and Ipanema. Exercise caution in the Centro during the day and avoid the area after nightfall and on Sundays.
- Be careful when using the GPS as they may lead you to unsafe areas controlled by organized crime. Prefere Cooperative taxis instead of driving yourself.
