Civil police officers in Amazonas arrested, on a preventive basis, this Friday (20), at least 13 people suspected of being part of a drug trafficking scheme set up by members of the criminal faction Comando Vermelho (CV), with the participation of public office holders in the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary branches. 
According to the investigators leading the Erga Omnes operation, the suspects have moved around R$70 million since 2018, using shell companies to “launder”, that is, give a legal appearance, to the money obtained from criminal activities.
According to Brazil Agency found out, Among the targets of the action is public servant Anabela Cardoso Freitas. Civil Police Investigator. Anabela is assigned to the municipal Civil House, where she holds the position of technical advisor. The report questioned the city hall about what other positions Anabela has held, but received no answers. According to Amazonian press outlets, she previously headed the office of the mayor, David Almeida – who is not the target of the operation, nor is he being investigated by the Civil Police.
In a note, the city council limited itself to informing that it is not the target of the operation and that the current administration “maintains an absolute commitment to legality, transparency and respect for institutions”, ensuring that any public servant “eventually investigated will respond individually for their actions, in accordance with the law, without prejudice to the regular functioning of the public machine”.
Another target of the police action is the judicial assistant at the Court of Justice of Amazonas (TJ-AM), Izaldir Moreno Barros. Also in a note, the Court informed, without mentioning names, that it is adopting the appropriate measures at the administrative level. “The institution reaffirms that it values the legality, transparency and integrity of the Judiciary, not condoning any conduct incompatible with functional duties”.
The report has not yet managed to contact Anabela and Barros’ defense and is open to positioning.
Scheme
“Our work was based exclusively on the evidence contained in the records, which supported the arrest requests [preventiva] of those involved”, highlighted delegate Marcelo Martins, head of the 24th Integrated Police District (DIP), during a press conference held in Manaus, to present a preliminary assessment of the operation.
According to police authorities, The suspects are being investigated for forming a criminal organization, active and passive corruption, violation of functional secrecy, as well as drug trafficking and money laundering. The group also operated in the states of Ceará, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Pará, São Paulo and Piauí, where part of the judicial arrest and search and seizure warrants were executed with the support of local security forces.
Still according to Martins, investigations began in August 2025 and revealed that members of the three state branches were assisting the traffickers. Based on reports from the Financial Activities Control Council (Coaf), investigators claim to have identified high-value financial transactions carried out by public servants suspected of participating in the criminal scheme.
“This collaboration occurred both through logistical support and by facilitating access to public administration or providing confidential information,” the Civil Police said in a statement.
The corporation added that the participation of civil servants “facilitated the movement of the criminal organization through different public institutions”.
According to investigators, logistics companies set up by the group for illicit purposes were used to distribute drugs throughout the country, simulating legal activities.
“The drugs were purchased in Tabatinga, and the amounts were transacted through shell companies in Amazonas and Pará, for later distribution in other states in Brazil,” explained the delegate. During the investigation, it became clear that the companies did not have financial transactions compatible with their activities.
“They did not buy inputs, they did not negotiate with other companies in the sector. Their only financial transactions were with drug dealers and public servants”, explained the delegate.
Even evangelical churches were used to make it difficult to identify the criminal group.
According to the Civil Police, one of the organization’s leaders, whose identity the report was unable to confirm, presented himself as an evangelical and worked in a church located in the Zumbi dos Palmares neighborhood, in the east zone of Manaus.
Check out information about the operation on Repórter Brasil Tarde, on TV Brasil
