One-Fifth of Brazilians Live Under Organized Crime Control. A Datafolha survey revealed that 28.5 million Brazilians (19% of those over 16) live in areas under organized crime influence. This represents a five percentage-point increase from 2024’s 14%. Among those in crime-dominated areas, 27% report knowing about clandestine cemeteries. The study identified PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as Brazil’s dominant criminal organizations. PCC, formed in São Paulo prisons in the 1990s, now controls motels, gas stations, and fintech companies used for drug money laundering. CV, created in 1979 in Rio prisons, is considered one of the world’s most dangerous organizations.
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Feminicides Surge 39% in July. São Paulo city recorded 39 feminicides from January-July 2025 compared to 28 in 2024 – a 39% increase. Bodily injury cases against women rose 15%, with over 9,400 cases in 2025 versus 8,100 in 2024. Rape cases increased 2%, with over 1,700 occurrences in 2025 against more than 1,600 in 2024. Nationally, Brazil registered 187 rape reports per day in the first semester of 2025.
National Context – 718 Feminicides in First Semester. Brazil recorded 718 feminicide victims from January-June 2025, maintaining an average of four deaths per day. São Paulo state led in absolute numbers with 128 cases, followed by Minas Gerais (60), Bahia (52), Rio de Janeiro (49) and Pernambuco (45).
14/10/2025 – Army Lieutenant Shot During Pharmacy Assault. A violent night saw four attempted pharmacy robberies in South Zone targeting expensive weight-loss medications. Six criminals invaded two pharmacies on Estrada do Campo Limpo, Jardim Campo Limpo, seeking Mounjaro and Ozempic injections. At one pharmacy, an Army lieutenant intervened during the robbery, engaging in physical combat with a 17-year-old assailant. The teen struck the officer with his gun’s butt before being shot. The military underwent surgery and remains in stable condition. The teenage assailant died at the hospital. Four accomplices invaded the neighboring pharmacy but fled upon hearing gunshots without stealing anything.
15/10/2025 – Armed Gang Takes Hostages in Shopping Cell Phone Store. Three armed criminals invaded Interlagos shopping center, in Interlagos neighborhood, and robberd a cell phone store. Security cameras captured one suspect in purple shirt and black cap shaking hands with a salesman while another in blue and hat approached announcing the robbery. All employees were dragged to the back of the store and held hostage while criminals stole cell phones. The suspects escaped before police arrived.
15/10/2025 – Sixth Suspect Arrested in Ex-Police Chief Murder. Danilo Pereira Pena (36), known as “Matemático”, was arrested as the sixth suspect in the assassination of ex-police chief Ruy Ferraz Fontes. He was found by DHPP detectives at a hostel in Morumbi, South Zone. According to investigations, Danilo ordered Luiz Henrique Santos Batista (Fofão) to transport Rafael Marcell Dias Simões (Jaguar) from São Vicente to São Paulo. Ruy Ferraz was executed on September 15 in Praia Grande after leaving work as Municipal Administration Secretary. He received at least 12 rifle shots. The investigation confirmed PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) involvement in the crime. Security cameras showed Ruy had been monitored for over a month, with one of the vehicles used spotted on August 18. Six people are now arrested, two remain fugitive, and one suspect died in police confrontation. The fugitives are Flávio Henrique Ferreira de Souza and Luis Antonio Rodrigues de Miranda.
16/10/2025 – Operation Dismantles Gang, Kills One in Paraisópolis. Operation Conexões Ocultas resulted in 11 arrests and one death in Paraisópolis community, South Zone. The Civil Police operation targeted a gang specialized in robberies, robbery followed by murder, and reception of stolen cell phones, wedding rings and motorcycles. Among those arrested was Suedna Barbosa Carneiro, known as “Mainha do Crime” or “Mainha de Paraisópolis”, previously convicted in February for maintaining a weapon bunker for rental to criminals and buying stolen goods. She allegedly commanded the criminals who killed cyclist Vitor Medrado (46) during a robbery in front of Parque do Povo in Itaim. Police connected some detainees to the January robbery followed by murder of delegate Josenildo Belarmino de Moura. Two arrested individuals received a stolen cell phone from the same authors involved in the delegate’s murder.
16/10/2025 – Man Wearing Bulletproof Vest Commits 14 Robberies in One Day. Igor Onorato was shot four times after attempting to rob an off-duty Civil Police officer at a restaurant in Osasco. He had committed 14 previous robberies the same day, primarily stealing gold chains and wedding rings. Security footage showed Igor, disguised as a delivery person, entering the restaurant, asking a question, then suddenly turning and shooting. The policeman’s stepson was hit in the leg. Igor wore a bulletproof vest which protected him from some shots, allowing him to await rescue. Police recovered 14 wedding rings, chains, bracelets, a watch and cash from the suspect. Wedding ring robberies surged 73% in São Paulo from January-August 2025, with 2,847 occurrences compared to 1,646 in 2024 – equivalent to one robbery every two hours.
16-17/10/2025 – Motorcycle Robbery Wave Terrorizes Perdizes. Multiple motorcycle-mounted armed robberies plagued Perdizes neighborhood. On October 16 at 10:25 AM on Rua Coronel Melo de Oliveira, a motorcyclist robbed a family’s cell phone while an elderly wheelchair-bound woman was present. Minutes later at 10:38 AM, the same suspect robbed another victim at what appeared to be a business. On October 11, another motorcyclist forced a young man to lie on the sidewalk after stealing his phone on Rua Apiacás.
16/10/2025 – Family with Young Children Robbed. A couple with two small children was pursued by an armed motorcyclist on Rua Campevas around 4:00 PM. They attempted to enter a building before the assault but failed. The father’s cell phone was stolen while terrified children clung to their mother.
17/10/2025 – Retired Officer Shoots Teen in Traffic Robbery Attempt. A retired Civil Police officer shot a 16-year-old during a “quebra-vidro” (window-smashing) robbery attempt on Avenida Tiradentes, Luz neighborhood. Three teenagers (ages 16, 15, and 13) broke the car window where the officer sat with his wife. He rapidly responded by shooting, hitting one teen in the back. The wounded adolescent was taken to Hospital das Clínicas in stable condition. The other two were detained.
