At Largo do Machado in Rio’s South Zone, residents and shopkeepers report rising violence, with thefts, robberies, and widespread drug use involving homeless teenagers. Data from the Public Security Institute show that between January and July 2025, street robberies rose 14% and cellphone thefts 62% in the 9th Police District (Catete), with 60 teenagers detained during the period. Businesses have reduced hours and reinforced private security, while churchgoers and locals avoid the area at night. The Segurança Presente program says it has stepped up patrols, with over 2,000 stops this year, but residents say insecurity returns once the teams leave the square.
Between January and July 2025, cases of physical aggression in Rio de Janeiro state schools rose 33% compared to the same period in 2024, climbing from 186 to 249 incidents. Thefts increased even more sharply, up 200%, from 46 to 139 cases. According to the state Education Secretariat, the rise reflects not only more violence but also better reporting since data collection began in 2023. Authorities say they are expanding safety measures, training teachers—especially in high-risk areas—holding socio-educational lectures, and deploying an app that allows schools to quickly call military police in emergencies.
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Since the beginning of 2025, violence in Rio de Janeiro has forced health units to shut down 698 times, averaging almost three closures per day, according to a municipal document obtained by O Globo. The closures mainly affect Family Clinics and health posts, particularly in the North Zone, where clashes between rival factions and police operations are frequent. Some facilities, like the Herbert de Souza Family Clinic near Morro do Juramento and the Sylvio Frederico Brauner post in Costa Barros, are among the most impacted, with constant shootings disrupting services. Health workers describe daily exposure to gunfire, barricades, and even needing permission from traffickers to enter units, comparing their work conditions to those of a war zone.
01/09/2025 – On Monday (01/09), a military police officer was shot dead during an operation in the Chapadão complex, in Costa Barros, North Zone. The officer was hit above his vest while searching inside an evangelical church, which was left riddled with bullet holes. Two suspects also died after being shot during the confrontation. Following the clash, criminals seized at least three buses to use as barricades, forcing schools and health units in the region to close. Police seized two rifles, three grenades, and drugs.
02/09/2025 – On Tuesday morning (02/09), the Military Police launched an operation in Morro da Mangueira, North Zone. In response, drug traffickers set fire to barricades to block police advances, filling the streets with smoke and triggering heavy gunfire that alarmed residents. Authorities reported that ten schools were affected by the clashes. As of the latest update, no arrests or seizures have been confirmed, and the police have not disclosed the operation’s objectives.
02/09/2025 – On Tuesday afternoon (02/09), four armed men on two motorcycles carried out a carjacking on Estrada Rio do Pau, in Pavuna, North Zone. Security footage shows the assailants forcing the driver out, with one taking the wheel, while another fired a shot to intimidate bystanders before fleeing. Moments later, officers from the 41st BPM (Irajá) arrived, leading to a confrontation, but no injuries or arrests were reported. The area is known for frequent robberies along major traffic routes.
02/09/2025 – On Tuesday night (02/09), a shootout on Rua André Rocha, near the Village Euclydes Figueiredo condominium in Taquara, West Zone, left two men dead and a third wounded suspect on the run. The confrontation, which began around 23:30, left bullet marks on walls and utility poles; it remains unclear whether it involved police or rival criminals. A driver with no connection to the incident had his car hit by a stray bullet.
02/09/2025 – On Tuesday (02/09), civil police from the 66th DP (Piabetá) arrested a 25-year-old woman known on social media as “Barbiezinha de Bangu” in Campo Grande, West Zone. She had been a fugitive since 2021 and was wanted for drug trafficking. Investigations revealed that she and her partner ran a “delivery” scheme, transporting drugs hidden in a helmet or carried by her. Despite being on the run, she maintained an active online presence, posting content praising drug trafficking and displaying firearms. In 2019, drugs were found at the couple’s residence during a police operation in Santa Maria Madalena.
03/09/2025 – On Wednesday (03/09), a major joint operation by the Federal Police, Rio de Janeiro’s state prosecutors, federal prosecutors, and Civil Police led to the arrest of state deputy TH Joias in Barra da Tijuca, West Zone. He is accused of drug trafficking, arms dealing, corruption, and laundering money for the Red Command (CV). The raids targeted 18 suspects, of whom 15 were detained, including police officers and former public officials. Authorities allege the network infiltrated public institutions, imported weapons from Paraguay and China, and funneled millions into the gang’s operations in the Complexos da Maré and Alemão. The MDB expelled TH Joias, while the Alerj confirmed that his office was searched and pledged cooperation.
03/09/2025 – On Wednesday (03/09), two men were arrested in Rio de Janeiro’s South Zone for suspected involvement in the February killing of a 27-year-old delivery worker in Copacabana. The victim was shot dead on 18 February after chasing criminals who had stolen a friend’s motorcycle in Arpoador; he was struck by two bullets and died on Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana. The Capital Homicide Division carried out the arrests, seizing a restricted-caliber firearm, gold chains, and the motorcycle used in the crime. Police continue investigating.
03/09/2025 – On Wednesday (03/09), a 38-year-old delivery motorcyclist was shot in Vila do João, within the Maré complex, and fatally wounded while trying to escape onto the Linha Amarela expressway. He carried invoices in a pouch, indicating he was working when attacked. Witnesses said he may have entered the community by mistake, while others suggested he was making a delivery. The Capital Homicide Division is investigating. The incident caused traffic disruptions as two lanes were closed.
03/09/2025 – On Wednesday (03/09), a 25-year-old woman was arrested in Piedade, North Zone, after police found the decomposing body of her 7-year-old daughter inside their home in Morro do Urubu. The child reportedly had special needs. She was detained by 3rd BPM officers after being assaulted by locals. The Capital Homicide Division is investigating, with evidence suggesting the girl may have died in August.
04/09/2025 – On Thursday (04/09), civil and military police launched an operation in Vila Aliança, West Zone, targeting leaders of the Third Pure Command (TCP). Intelligence indicated that two key figures of the faction were in the area. Armed criminals reacted with gunfire and used vehicles as barricades, forcing the suspension of train and bus services. Passengers at Senador Camará station threw themselves to the floor to avoid bullets, and schoolchildren also sought shelter during the shooting. Four buses and two trucks were seized, while major roads such as Avenida de Santa Cruz and Estrada do Taquaral were blocked. The operation involved the Civil and Military Police intelligence units, the Anti-Narcotics Division, CORE, and BOPE, with support from helicopters and armored vehicles.
04/09/2025 – Police in Rio de Janeiro uncovered a warehouse in Realengo, West Zone, containing a soundproof torture room and cloned police vehicles during Operation Torniquete on Thursday (04/09). Inside, officers found a chamber equipped with ropes, a water barrel for simulated drownings, and a ceiling hook, suggesting it was used for interrogating or torturing rivals. Four cars, including a Toyota Corolla painted to mimic Civil Police markings, were discovered, along with other stolen vehicles. Authorities are investigating whether the site belonged to militia groups or to traffickers from the Red Command (CV), both fighting over control of the Catiri community in Bangu. The location was shut down. The Catiri area remains a key battleground in the ongoing war between militias and CV, tied to the group’s push to build a territorial “belt” around the Gericinó prison complex, where many of its leaders are held.
04/09/2025 – A man was arrested on Thursday night (04/09) on Ilha do Governador, for stealing electricity to run a clandestine bitcoin mining operation. According to police, he had rented a house on Rua Magno Martins, in the Freguesia area, solely to install high-performance computers running 24 hours a day. The property did not even have an electricity meter, confirming the illegal hookup. Residents had reported the loud noise from the machines, made worse by improvised cooling systems.
04/09/2025 – A 20-year-old man identified as a key member of the Third Pure Command (TCP) in Rio’s Complexo da Maré was arrested Thursday night (04/09) after arriving injured at the Federal Hospital of Bonsucesso, in the city’s North Zone. Police confirmed his identity during a database check and executed an outstanding preventive arrest warrant issued in July for cargo theft. After receiving medical care, he was taken to the local police station. He already had eight prior criminal records and had previously been arrested in October 2024 while dining in Barra da Tijuca. Investigations link him to drug trafficking activities in Vila dos Pinheiros, where he was documented carrying rifles and pistols, negotiating drugs, and using stolen luxury cars.
04/09/2025 – The Rio de Janeiro Military Police launched Operation Summer earlier than planned, deploying 1,380 officers across the state as of Thursday (04/09). The focus is on the beachfront areas of the capital and coastal cities, as well as highways and expressways leading to tourist destinations. The initiative, which includes patrols on foot, horseback, motorcycles, quad bikes, and canine units, aims to prevent violence, safeguard public transport, and curb vandalism during peak beach hours. Enhanced monitoring technology, including drones, helicopters, facial recognition, and body cameras, will transmit images in real time to command centers. In addition, buses heading to the beaches will be closely monitored and may be intercepted if risks are detected. The operation is a coordinated effort between Military and Civil Police, municipal agencies, and social services, with special reinforcements in tourist-heavy regions such as Niterói, Região dos Lagos, Costa Verde, and the North Fluminense coast.
04/09/2025 – Police arrested a man identified as a member of the Third Pure Command (TCP) and personal security for a local drug leader in Ilha do Governador. He was detained on Thursday evening (04/09) on Rua Sena after attempting to flee during an operation by the 37th Police Precinct. The suspect had been under investigation and appeared in reports carrying rifles and pistols, frequently posting images on social media flaunting firearms and praising the faction. According to authorities, he worked as an armed guard in the communities of Dendê and Guarabu, receiving a weekly payment for the role. A cellphone was seized.
04/09/2025 – In Rio das Pedras, the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, the vice-president of the residents’ association was targeted in two attacks in just over a month. He escaped unharmed in late July when armed men tried to intercept him, but on Thursday (04/09), he was shot in the foot near the association’s headquarters by four attackers, two with rifles and one with a pistol. The case is under investigation by the police. Rio das Pedras, birthplace of the militia, remains under paramilitary control but has increasingly been attacked by Red Command (CV), which already dominates neighboring favelas as well as strategic areas of Jacarepaguá. The escalating clashes underscore CV’s push to expand into traditionally militia-controlled strongholds.
05/09/2025 – A firefighter was arrested on Friday (05/09) in Marechal Hermes, North Zone, suspected of killing a military police officer during a traffic dispute in May 2024. According to investigators, the officer was shot multiple times after an argument in the Encantado neighborhood and died at the scene. The suspect is also under investigation for a second road rage incident in May 2025, in which another man was shot but survived. Police say both crimes were committed with the same pistol registered to the firefighter.
05/09/2025 – Residents of Senador Camará, West Zone, faced disruptions Friday (05/09) after a violent police operation the previous day targeting the Third Pure Command (TCP) members. The action left six suspects dead and a cameraman injured. Although no new clashes were reported, schools remained closed, and several health units were affected. During the raid, traffickers used buses as barricades and damaged train lines, causing nine hours of disruption on the Santa Cruz line. The operation sought suspects linked to the rape and murder of a 22-year-old woman after a funk party. Two leaders — “Coronel” and “Sabão” — remain fugitives. Armed men briefly held a pastor and a child hostage, who were rescued unharmed, and kidnapped a journalist, who was beaten and robbed before being released and hospitalized. Police seized four rifles, and investigations continued.
05/09/2025 – On Friday (05/09), Military Police officers arrested a 23-year-old man accused of homicide on Praia do Recreio, in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, West Zone, near Posto 12. The suspect, considered highly dangerous and linked to the Third Pure Command (TCP), attempted to escape by swimming for more than an hour and a half after jumping into the sea, even trying to hand a pistol to his accomplice before both were detained. Authorities reported that he had three prior incarcerations, along with eight other criminal records.
06/09/2025 – In Rio de Janeiro, between Saturday (06) and Sunday (07/09), 2025, three Military Police operations within 24 hours left one suspect dead, three injured, six arrested, and four rifles seized. In Penha, North Zone, officers from the 16th BPM clashed with armed men in a vehicle in the Kelson community, resulting in four suspects shot — one fatally — and the seizure of a rifle, pistol, and radio. In Campo Grande, West Zone, the 40th BPM arrested six individuals in “Campo do Chacrinha,” confiscating two rifles, three pistols, over 350 rounds of ammunition, cocaine, and cell phones. Meanwhile, in São João de Meriti, Baixada Fluminense, the 21st BPM seized another rifle, three magazines, and ammunition in the “Trio de Ouro” area.
06/09/2025 – On Saturday night (06/09), a shootout on Avenida Brasil, near Barros Filho, ended with one man arrested and three others escaping. According to the Military Police, BPVE officers ordered a car to stop, but the occupants opened fire on the agents while heading toward the Mata Quatro community. After the exchange of gunfire, the vehicle was intercepted, though most of the suspects fled. Police seized a pistol, ten rounds of ammunition, an extended magazine, a radio transmitter, a cell phone, and the vehicle.
07/09/2025 – On Sunday morning (07/09), a shootout in Praça Seca, West Zone, left two suspects dead and one injured during a joint operation by the 18th BPM (Jacarepaguá) and the 28th Police Precinct to dismantle a gang specialized in home invasions. Worshippers at the Universal Church interrupted their service and hid under chairs as gunfire erupted nearby, with videos showing scenes of panic. According to police, the suspects opened fire when stopped in a car linked to a robbery in Taquara, prompting officers to respond; one suspect fled, while another was taken to a hospital. Authorities seized two pistols, two revolvers, a shotgun, a replica firearm, and two vehicles.
08/09/2025 – On Monday (08/09), Argentine tourist Alejandro Mario Ainsworth was found dead on Estrada da Grota Funda, between Recreio and Guaratiba, in Rio’s Southwest Zone, a day after disappearing. His body showed no signs of violence, and homicide detectives are investigating whether he was a victim of the “Boa Noite, Cinderela” scheme (spiked drink scam). Ainsworth was last seen on 7 September, leaving a hotel in Copacabana; soon after, suspicious transactions were carried out on his accounts, including $3,500 in withdrawals and a $4,000 loan. The case echoes recent operations against criminal groups drugging and robbing tourists in the city.
09/09/2025 – On Tuesday (09/09), Military Police launched operations in the Complexo do Chapadão, North Zone, and Morro Santo Amaro, South Zone. In Chapadão, armed men set fire to barricades and moved around on motorcycles and cars to obstruct 41st BPM patrols, whose mission was to curb vehicle thefts. Meanwhile, the 2nd BPM and the Canine Battalion operated in Santo Amaro. Due to the actions, health units in both areas suspended external services.
09/09/2025 – On Tuesday night (09/09), three shootings in Rio de Janeiro’s West and Southwest zones left at least three dead, including a teenager. Around 22:00 in Guaratiba, three men were shot, one fatally; about an hour later at Recreio Beach near Posto 12, armed men on motorcycles opened fire on youths by a kiosk, killing a 16-year-old and critically wounding another; and in the Terreirão community, also in Recreio, another man was shot dead. Police are investigating the motives and possible links between the cases.
09/09/2025 – On Tuesday (09/09), a woman was arrested in Campo Grande, West Zone, for torturing her daughters, aged 5 and 6, by burning them with a hot spoon. The case was reported by staff at the Eugênia de Almeida Azevedo childcare center after the girls arrived with burn marks. Police from the 40th BPM took the mother and grandmother to the 35th Police Station, while the children were sent for examination.
10/09/2025 – On Wednesday (10/09), a street vendor was arrested on Copacabana Beach after charging a Chilean couple about R$ 400 for a single portion of shrimp. The tourists suspected fraud and alerted agents from the Segurança Presente program, who detained the man with support from the 19th Military Police Battalion. He was taken to the Tourist Support Police Station.
11/09/2025 – On Thursday night (11/09), two Vasco fans were shot during a clash between rival supporters in Oswaldo Cruz, North Rio. One was hit in the head and died, while the other was shot in the foot and hospitalized. Videos showed fans carrying the wounded and seeking shelter in a nearby market. Military Police units reinforced patrols in the area after the incident, which occurred during Vasco’s Copa do Brasil quarterfinal against Botafogo.
11/09/2025 – On Thursday afternoon (11/09), a violent fight broke out between two street vendors at the corner of Rua do Catete and Correa Dutra in the Catete neighborhood, South Zone. One used a knife, while the other retaliated using a glass bottle. Security agents from the Segurança Presente program intervened, finding blood at the scene and recovering the knife. One man, with head and torso injuries, was taken to the hospital. The other was taken to the 9th Police Station in Catete, where the case was registered for investigation.
11/09/2025 – On Thursday (11/09), police in Rio de Janeiro arrested a man in Marechal Hermes on charges of abusing his five children, aged 8 to 15, and a dog. The case was reported by a social project assisting the minors since April, after a voice message captured the father threatening and beating one of the children. The children and the dog showed signs of recent injuries, and police also found evidence of electricity theft.
12/09/2025 – On Friday morning (12/09), a Brazilian Navy serviceman shot and killed an armed robber during an attempted assault on Avenida Dom Hélder Câmara in Piedade, North Zone. According to witnesses, the suspect had been committing robberies in the area using a motorcycle, which was seized along with three stolen cell phones. The case was recorded at the 24th Police Precinct, and patrols were reinforced in the region.
12/09/2025 – On Friday (12/09), a shootout between rival drug traffickers in Morro do Barbante, Ilha do Governador, left a 23-year-old resident dead while he was working at a car wash near his home. Two others were injured and taken to the hospital: one identified as a local trafficker now under police custody, and another a 58-year-old resident whose condition remains unknown. Witnesses reported that gunmen from Morro do Dendê attempted to invade the rival community through Rua Martim Pescador.
12/09/2025 – On Friday (12/09), three military police officers were arrested by Rio de Janeiro’s Anti-Kidnapping Division and the PM’s Internal Affairs for allegedly kidnapping a criminal in Santíssimo, West Zone, and demanding R$500,000 from his wife for his release. The victim was ambushed around 12:30 when arriving home with his family, by masked men in PM uniforms armed with rifles, who forced him into their car. Shortly after, his wife received a ransom call. Investigators confirmed the officers were on duty with the Tactical Action Group (GAT) at the time, and the case is being treated as extortion through kidnapping.
13/09/2025 – On Saturday (13/09), a 24-year-old man, Matheus Casemiro dos Santos, was beaten to death with wooden sticks during a violent clash between rival soccer fans near Nilton Santos Stadium (Engenhão) in Engenho de Dentro, Rio’s North Zone. Videos circulating online show him lying on the ground, surrounded and brutally attacked with kicks and blows to the head. Police seized pieces of wood used in the assault, and two injured men were taken to the hospital. The Civil Police Homicide Division is investigating the killing, as military police units dispersed the crowd and recorded the incident.
14/09/2025 – On Sunday (14/09), a 31-year-old man with paranoid schizophrenia suffered a psychotic episode and entered an Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus temple on Rua Aurélio Valporto, in Marechal Hermes, North Zone. Witnesses reported that he was immobilized on the ground by a pastor and other church members, allegedly through neck compression, until he lost consciousness. He was revived by paramedics and taken to the hospital but died the next morning. The autopsy pointed to signs of asphyxiation and other injuries. Civil Police are investigating the case, which may be reclassified from bodily injury to homicide, while the family denounces the immobilization as excessive.
15/09/2025 – On Monday (15/09), Rio de Janeiro Civil Police and the state transport department (Detro) launched an operation uncovering a fraud scheme involving intermunicipal van fines, causing losses of about R$ 900,000. Investigations revealed a commissioned Detro employee altered 144 fines since 2021, reducing amounts or marking them as paid in exchange for bribes, keeping an estimated R$ 450,000. The scheme was exposed after an internal intelligence tip, leading to search and seizure of materials. The suspect will face charges of falsifying data in public systems and possibly corruption, and Detro confirmed he will be dismissed.
16/09/2025 – On Tuesday (16/09), a cable theft at a substation in Andaraí, North zone, caused a blackout that left parts of Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, South Zone, and downtown without power for about three hours. Light reported that criminals cut a grounding wire, triggering an overload and fire, with service restored by 6:00 The company recorded 212 cable thefts from January to August 2025, totaling 144.5 km of wiring and R$ 13.4 million in losses, with Copacabana, Ipanema, and downtown among the hardest-hit areas.
17/09/2025 – On Wednesday (17/09), Civil Police officers arrested a 31-year-old militia member at Miguel Couto Hospital in Leblon, South Zone, where he was hospitalized. He is accused of being a key operative in the Rio das Pedras militia and faces two arrest warrants for double qualified homicide. Authorities describe him as the right-hand man of the group’s leader, already imprisoned, and continue investigating his role in multiple killings and organized crime activities in the city’s West Zone.
17/09/2025 – On Wednesday (17/09), civil police launched an operation in Vila Kennedy and Catiri, West Zone, to curb the Red Command’s territorial expansion. Investigations revealed that leaders based in the Complexo da Penha were directing armed cells to extend control into Catiri and Campo Grande, using Vila Kennedy as a logistical hub. The offensive tactics included homicides, forced evictions, curfews, barricades, and drone surveillance. The action, part of Operação Contenção, resulted in 27 arrests that day, with over 50 suspects detained overall and seven killed in clashes. Schools and health units in the area were forced to close or restrict services due to the violence.
17/09/2025 – On Wednesday (17/09), civil police from Rio de Janeiro arrested Inácio de Castro Silva, known as Canelão, in Diadema, São Paulo. Considered one of the most wanted figures in Rio’s criminal underworld, he was identified as the drug trade manager in Rocinha and credited with forging an alliance between the Red Command (CV) and São Paulo’s First Capital Command (PCC). Previously arrested in 2012 and released in 2018, he resumed criminal activity and strengthened ties with the PCC. On the run for five years for drug trafficking, he evaded capture by using false identities and constantly changing addresses.
17/09/2025 – On Wednesday night (17/09), singer Diogo Melim and his wife, content creator Nanda Caroll, were victims of an armed robbery in Barra da Tijuca, in Rio’s Southwest Zone. The couple was returning from a birthday party when eight men on four motorcycles — at least three of them armed — forced them to stop on Avenida Lúcio Costa and stole their car along with personal belongings, including cell phones, wallets, and a VR headset. The case was first registered at the 16th DP (Barra da Tijuca), which is conducting investigations to identify the criminals.
18/09/2025 – On Thursday (18/09), eight armed and hooded men stormed Pedro II Municipal Hospital in Santa Cruz, West Zone, aiming to kill a 31-year-old patient who had survived a prior assassination attempt. The attackers, believed linked to a militia, subdued security guards and reached the surgical center, but the target had already been moved to the infirmary. The invasion, which endangered dozens of patients and disrupted medical care, was described by Rio’s health secretary as a “scene of terror” and proof of the collapse of public security. Police are investigating and conducting operations in nearby communities to locate the perpetrators.
19/09/2025 – On Friday (19/09), two military police officers from the 17th BPM were injured by shrapnel when their patrol encountered an explosive barricade in the Barbante community, Ilha do Governador. A police vehicle was also damaged. According to the Military Police, the explosives had been hidden under traffic cones as a trap. During the operation, officers seized a pistol and an unspecified quantity of drugs, and one suspect was arrested. The case was referred to the 37th Police Precinct.
19/09/2025 – On Friday (19/09), Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service launched Operation Carbon Chain, intercepting two ships carrying oil, condensate, and fuel worth R$240 million—one in Rio de Janeiro’s port and another in Alagoas. Authorities said the shipments, already cleared through customs, were seized due to the use of shell companies with no financial capacity, allegedly acting as fronts to hide the real importers. The investigation points to multi-billion-real tax fraud, possible money laundering, and the involvement of criminal organizations in the fuel sector. The operation also executed warrants in São Paulo, Amapá, and Paraíba, with Navy support, and is part of expanded efforts since 2023 to crack down on large-scale fraud in the market.
19/09/2025 – On Friday (19/09), Rio’s Civil Police Special Forces (Core) carried out an operation in the Cidade de Deus community, West Zone, to capture suspects linked to the murder of civil police officer José Antônio Lourenço. The action resulted in one man being killed and another arrested, both considered criminals by the police. The operation triggered an intense exchange of gunfire, with helicopters flying over the area. Officers seized a rifle, explosives, and a large quantity of drugs. Two other men were also taken by the police.
19/09/2025 – On Friday night (19/09), an off-duty Military Police sergeant was killed in Bento Ribeiro, North Zone, after resisting an attempted robbery. The officer was returning home by car with a friend when four armed men on two motorcycles surrounded them near the Marechal Hermes viaduct. After reacting to the assault, he was shot six times and later died at Carlos Chagas Hospital, while his companion was unharmed. The suspects fled without taking anything, and the case is under investigation by the Homicide Division.
22/09/2025 – On Monday afternoon (22/09), a woman was shot during a shootout in the Dois Irmãos community in Curicica, West Zone. She was rescued by firefighters and taken to the hospital in Barra da Tijuca, where her condition was reported as stable. Residents described an intense gun battle, with videos showing heavy gunfire and panic in the area. The Military Police stated that officers from the 18th BPM were deployed to contain a criminal dispute in the community.
22/09/2025 – On Monday night (22/09), a 53-year-old Military Police officer was found dead with gunshot wounds in the parking lot of an Assai supermarket in Gardênia Azul, Jacarepaguá, Southwest Zone. Firefighters were called at 18:40 to Avenida Ayrton Sena, where they found the victim already deceased. According to police records, he was a sub-lieutenant serving at the 31st BPM (Recreio dos Bandeirantes). The case is under investigation by the Capital Homicide Division.
23/09/2025 – On Tuesday morning (23/09), the Military Police carried out an operation in the Gardênia Azul community, Southwest Zone, one day after the execution of 53-year-old sub-lieutenant Sidney dos Santos Debossam. The officer, assigned to the 31st BPM, was killed on Monday night (22/09) in the parking lot of a supermarket on Avenida Ayrton Senna, in Jacarepaguá, when he was leaving the premises and was surrounded by hooded men armed with rifles. He was shot multiple times and died instantly.
23/09/2025 – On Tuesday afternoon (23/09), a major shootout erupted during a police operation in the Complexo da Pedreira, Costa Barros, in Rio’s North Zone. Criminals hijacked three buses to use as barricades and set fire to obstacles, temporarily trapping a Police Force armored vehicle. Amid the clashes, the car of a doctor working at the Costa Barros UPA was riddled with bullets while parked in front of the unit. All municipal health units were closed due to insecurity. Police reported the seizure of a rifle, while the area remains the scene of violent disputes between Red Command and Third Pure Command for territorial control.
23/09/2025 – On Tuesday (23/09), police in Rio de Janeiro apprehended a teenage offender in Penha, North Zone, who had fled officers during a July raid at rapper Oruam’s house, in the Joá neighborhood. The minor, identified as one of the founders of the “Equipe do Ódio,” a group specialized in car thefts and linked to the Red Command, had an open arrest warrant and faces an investigation for assaulting an ex-girlfriend. According to police, he resisted and fought with agents before being detained. His July escape occurred when Oruam and others attacked a police vehicle, allowing him to flee into the woods; he later turned himself in but failed to comply with court-ordered measures, prompting the new warrant.
24/09/2025 – On Wednesday (24/09), a police operation in Vila Kennedy, West Zone, left one suspect injured and four arrested, according to the PM. The action caused repeated blockades on Avenida Brasil by armed groups in protest, forcing reinforced policing and major traffic disruption. As a result, 14 public schools and two health units closed, while another suspended external services. The operation removed six barricade points and about 12 tons of material from the streets.
24/09/2025 – On Wednesday (24/09), armed criminals fleeing from a police operation invaded the Acalanto Municipal Nursery in Morro do Juramento, Vicente de Carvalho, North Zone. They hid at the back of the school before police arrived, and a classroom window was hit by gunfire while children were being moved under the Safe Access protocol, but no one was injured. The Municipal Education Secretary condemned the use of schools as escape routes, demanding a strong response from security forces. Earlier cases include a 7-year-old hit by a stray bullet in August, while official data show that between February and September, 508 municipal schools were forced to suspend activities at least once due to armed violence, affecting 170,000 students.
25/09/2025 – On Thursday (25/09), a man identified as a member of the “Bonde do Loirinho,” the largest car theft gang in Rio linked to the Red Command, was killed in a police shootout in Olaria, North Zone. In the stolen car where he was found, officers seized a rifle, a grenade, a GPS jammer, a bulletproof vest, and a pistol, while an accomplice managed to escape. He was under investigation for around ten recent car robberies in the South Zone, North Zone, and downtown, including the attack on Flamengo goalkeeper Rossi, whose armored car was hit by gunfire during an attempted robbery on the Linha Amarela in May.
26/09/2025 – On Friday (26/09), Rio police killed Edmilson Marques de Oliveira, known as “Cria,” one of the leaders of the Third Pure Command (TCP) in the Maré complex, North Zone. The Civil Police described him as “bloodthirsty and cruel,” with 222 criminal records and three arrest warrants. He was under surveillance for two months and accused of supplying arms, planning territorial invasions, and being among those responsible for the June 2024 ambush that killed two BOPE officers. During the raid in Vila dos Pinheiros, police seized rifles, pistols, ammunition, ballistic vests, and drugs. Shootouts led to the temporary closure of Linha Amarela as criminals gathered to support TCP’s war against rival Red Command.
26/09/2025 – On Friday (26/09), the Federal Police seized around half a ton of cocaine hidden in coffee sacks at the Port of Rio de Janeiro. The shipment, intercepted during a routine inspection with the support of sniffer dogs and the Federal Revenue Service, was destined for a European port, where it would have been distributed by transnational criminal groups. The action, coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Division (DRE/PF/RJ), is part of Operation Redentor 2 under the broader Redentor Mission, aimed at dismantling criminal organizations in Rio.
TRENDS & ADVICE
- Mass robberies and thefts in tourist spots are some of the most notorious security risks in Rio de Janeiro, especially in the city’s South Zone.
- When moving through crowded places and their vicinities, visitors should be cautious and refrain from exposing valuables.
- 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.
- Rio is famous for its favelas, and most are affected by the presence of gangs. Disputes for territory between rivals and police operations lead to gunfights. Therefore, these locations should never be visited.
- Shootouts may also occur outside such communities, in this case:
- Lay on the ground and seek cover behind a solid object, such as the engine block.
- When it is safe to do so, find the nearest building, stay away from any windows, and do not move unless you are sure that the gunfire has ended.
- Shootouts may also occur outside such communities, in this case:
- Avoid walking alone in poorly lit areas or beaches after nightfall. Avoid walking/biking through tunnels, especially Túnel do Leme.
- As sexual aggressions are on the rise, women should pay special attention to the environments where they go alone and avoid empty and dark places.
- During a night out, never accept offers of food and beverages from strangers, and pay attention to yours, as they can add drugs to them.
- Men and women alike are targets of such crimes.
- Be always cautious, even in the areas considered safe, such as Downtown, Botafogo, Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and Barra da Tijuca.
- Exercise caution in the Centro (downtown) during the day and avoid the area after nightfall and during the weekends, as it is relatively deserted during such periods.
- Be careful when using the GPS, as it may lead you to unsafe areas controlled by organized crime.
- Remain on the main streets and roads and avoid the rush hours.
- Prefer cooperative taxis instead of driving yourself or using a ride-sharing App.
- Stay away from any protests that normally occur in Av. Presidente Vargas, Av. Rio Branco, Praça da Cinelândia, and Av. Atlântica.
- Attention to scams that may reach you through a WhatsApp message, e-mail, SMS, or a call.
- Keep in mind useful numbers: Emergency police number (190), and Rio de Janeiro tourist Police. Phone: (21) 2332-7949
