On Monday (12/08), the Military Police launched an operation in Morro do Dendê, on Ilha do Governador, in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, aimed at suppressing criminal activity in the community. Four men, identified as bodyguards of drug trafficker Mário Henrique Paranhos de Oliveira—known as Neves—were arrested during the action. Neves is recognized by police as the current leader of the local drug trafficking ring. From the suspects, officers seized four rifles, including one with a precision scope, more than 200 rounds of ammunition, three grenades, bulletproof vests, and drugs. Authorities estimate the total value of the arsenal at approximately R$500,000. During the operation, traffickers retaliated by hijacking 12 buses to use the barricades, with one vehicle set on fire.
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Drug Trafficking Boss
Neves is regarded as the successor to Fernando Gomes de Freitas, better known as Fernandinho Guarabu, who controlled the Dendê territory until his death in a shootout with police in 2019. Despite the police operation, Neves managed to escape. According to information from the National Council of Justice (CNJ), three arrest warrants are active against him, issued by the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice (TJRJ). He is associated with the Third Pure Command (TCP), one of the state’s most powerful criminal factions.
The Operation
Colonel Marcos André, commander of the 17th Military Police Battalion (Ilha do Governador), reported that the mission began at around 5:00 to dismantle barricades and restrict the circulation of armed criminals. Reinforcements from the 22nd Battalion (Maré) and the 3rd Battalion (Méier) participated, along with three armored personnel carriers. However, security forces had already surrounded the community hours earlier, shortly after midnight, in a preemptive maneuver. When officers advanced into the hillside, particularly in the area known as Tenda, they confronted armed men who attempted to flee. All four suspects were eventually arrested, and their weapons were seized.
Hijacked Buses
According to police, the hijacking of buses was ordered by traffickers as a defensive tactic to obstruct road access to Dendê Hill. Ilha do Governador, where the favela is located, lies only 8.5 kilometers from Rio’s International Airport, GIG, raising concerns about broader security risks. In addition to the buses, trash containers were set ablaze and thrown onto Cacuia and Dendê roads to block traffic. Residents reported hearing intense rifle fire around 6:00, creating a climate of tension across the region.In a statement, the bus companies’ union stated that the bus route Ribeira-Bancários, was set on fire. In 2025, 99 buses have already been hijacked, and three were set on fire. Additionally, 11 lines have had their routes changed.
Impact on the Region
Despite the violence, the Municipal Health Department confirmed that four health units serving the Dendê area remained open to the population, although home visits and external activities were suspended for safety reasons. Around 9:00, fresh gunfire erupted in the vicinity. At approximately 9:50 a.m., Paranapuã Avenue, in the Tauá neighborhood, was closed near the community, according to the Rio Operations Center (COR). Some businesses in the Cacuia neighborhood chose to close their doors during the morning, reflecting the disruption and fear caused by the confrontation.
Analysis:
The operation in Morro do Dendê shows both the persistence of entrenched criminal power and the challenges faced by security forces in Rio de Janeiro. The arrest of four heavily armed bodyguards, along with the seizure of a significant arsenal, demonstrates the scale of the resources available to local drug factions and the militarized nature of their operations. The fact that traffickers were able to hijack multiple buses and paralyze key roads in response reflects their capacity not only for violence but also for disrupting urban life as a form of resistance and intimidation.
At the same time, the escape of Neves, a prominent figure in the Third Pure Command, points to the structural limitations of police interventions when not combined with sustained territorial control and long-term institutional presence. Operations that rely heavily on immediate tactical gains, without addressing governance voids in these areas, often allow criminal leadership to reconstitute itself and reassert control once security forces withdraw.
Sources: O Globo; Extra; A Folha de SP.
