A shootout in the Maré Complex, in the North Zone of Rio, on Tuesday (13/05), during an operation by the Military Police, resulted in the death of one of the most wanted drug traffickers in the state. Thiago da Silva Folly, known as TH, identified as the head of the Third Pure Command (TCP), was shot and killed during the operation. Two of his security guards also died. TH had an extensive criminal record and was accused of killing two BOPE sergeants in June of last year (2024). The Linha Amarela expressway was closed due to the confrontation.
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The Operation
According to the Military Police, drug traffickers set fire to barricades at the entrances to the complex in an attempt to prevent the police from advancing. Residents reported hearing gunshots in the communities of Vila do João, Pinheiros, Baixa do Sapateiro, and Timbau, starting at 03:00 h Videos show tracer bullets — a special type of ammunition with a pyrotechnic compound that allows shooters to visualize the trajectory of the shot.
TH’s Death
The Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE) found TH in a bunker in Morro do Timbau. After an intense confrontation, the drug trafficker was killed. The investigation lasted eight months and was supported by the Intelligence Subsecretariat. The Military Police Secretary, Colonel Marcelo de Menezes Nogueira, described the action as “surgical.” TH was directly involved in the deaths of two BOPE agents in July of last year.He was a leader with multiple criminal records and was considered a narcoterrorist. TH shared command of Maré with two other leaders: Edmilson Marques de Oliveira, known as Cria or Di Ferro; and Michel de Souza Malveira, known as Bill, Mano Bill, Mangolê, or César.
Blockages
The shootout caused seven roadblocks on the Linha Amarela and temporary closures on the Linha Vermelha and Avenida Brasil, the city’s three main expressways. According to Lamsa, the concessionaire responsible for Linha Amarela, intermittent closures continued throughout the morning due to the operation.
Analysis:
The operation that resulted in the death of Thiago da Silva Folly, known as “TH,” represents a significant symbolic and operational blow against the Third Pure Command (TCP) in Rio de Janeiro. TH was a central figure in the faction’s leadership, exerting a strong influence over the Maré Complex and reportedly involved in the deaths of two BOPE officers in 2024. The operation demonstrates the growing effectiveness of police intelligence in identifying and neutralizing high-priority targets, even within areas long dominated by organized crime.
However, the confrontation also reveals the complexity and risks of such operations, especially in densely populated urban areas. The closure of major expressways, Linha Amarela, Linha Vermelha, and Avenida Brasil, shows how armed clashes between the state and criminal factions still affect the city’s mobility and the daily lives of residents. The violent response from the traffickers, including barricade fires and heavy gunfire, confirms that territorial control remains a critical source of power for these groups.
