The civil and military police and the Specialized Action Group for Combating Organized Crime of the Public Ministry of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Gaeco/MPRJ), with the support of the Public Security Secretariat, carry out, this Wednesday (15), more a stage of Operation Tourniquet. Today, the action is in the Complex of Favelas of Alemão and Penha, in the north of Rio. “To date, seven criminals have been arrested”, informed the Civil Police Secretariat (Sepol).
The arrival of security forces for the operation was met with intense gunfire reported by residents on social media. The work of the police was hampered by the installation of several barriers, by criminals, to delay the agents’ entry into the community. Preliminary information indicates that a police officer was injured in the shoulder and two suspects were also shot.
This phase, according to the MPRJ, is for the execution of 14 arrest warrants against members of the criminal faction Comando Vermelho, involved in a financial scheme known as Caixinha do CV. “The targets were reported by Gaeco/MPRJ to court for the crimes of criminal organization and money laundering, related to drug trafficking and concealment of illicit values in more than 4,888 financial operations, totaling approximately R$ 21,521,290.38”, he added. note from the Civil Police Secretariat.
The Public Ministry added that the warrants were issued by the 1st Specialized Criminal Court and are being served in Bangu, Jacarepaguá, Engenho da Rainha, Nova Iguaçu, Ramos, Copacabana, Cordovil, Santo Cristo and at the Vicente Piragibe Penal Institute. Warrants are also enforced in the states of Bahia and Paraíba.
“The system works through fees charged monthly to leaders of drug sales points in communities dominated by the faction. In exchange, those responsible for the smoke shops have access to the organization’s brand, drug suppliers, logistical support and military support”, detailed a note from the MPRJ.
The Gaeco/MPRJ complaint indicates that the amounts collected “are centralized and used to finance actions such as the purchase of drugs and weapons, territorial expansion, payment of bribes, assistance to imprisoned members and related crimes such as extortion and theft of cargo and vehicles, in addition to the monopolized exploitation of internet services”, indicated the MP.
Family members
According to the Civil Police Secretariat, in addition to the operators of the faction’s fund that operates in the region, beneficiaries of this scheme are targets of the operation, including family members of members of the criminal organization. “Financing is fueled by various crimes that impact the population, such as robbery and theft of vehicles and cargo and extortion, as well as exploitation and disputes over territories”, added the note.
“The investigations, conducted using advanced technology by the Anti-Money Laundering Technology Laboratory (Lab-LD), revealed a sophisticated scheme that generated millions of reais from illicit activities,” the note revealed.
The MPRJ added that, based on evidence, breaches of tax and banking secrecy of those investigated were authorized, which enabled detailed access to suspicious financial transactions. The analyzes were carried out by Lab-LD, linked to the General Department for Combating Organized Crime and Money Laundering (DGCCOR-LD).
“The use of advanced technology in data crossing was essential to identify the network of people involved and the accounts used in the criminal scheme”, revealed the Public Ministry.
The secretariat reported that the financial suffocation of criminal organizations and beneficiaries, including family members of those involved, imprisoned or free, is one of the objectives of the second phase of Operation Tourniquet, which began in September 2024 and has already resulted in more than 300 prisons.
