A councilor and six military police officers were preventively arrested this Wednesday, March 11, for alleged links to the criminal group Comando Vermelho in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, in an operation that has already detained more than 20 authorities from the “wonderful city”.
“The evidence collected during the investigations revealed that the military police targets of the operation used the prerogatives of their uniform and public service to act for the benefit of organized crime”indicated, in a statement, the Federal Police, detailing that they had shown that the military facilitated logistics for drug trafficking and militias but also helped to protect criminals and hide “illicit economic profit”.
“Those under investigation will be able to respond, to the extent of their responsibilities, for crimes of criminal organization, active and passive corruption, in addition to money laundering”, stressed the Federal Police.
On the other hand, Rio de Janeiro councilor Salvino Oliveira Barbosa, former municipal secretary for Youth under the current mayor, is accused of having negotiated directly with the drug trafficker and one of the main leaders of Comando Vermelho Edgar Alves de Andrade, better known as “Doca”.
At issue is the authorization to carry out an electoral campaign in a Rio community controlled by the criminal faction.
“In return, the parliamentarian would have articulated benefits to the criminal group, publicly presented as actions aimed at the local population. One of the examples investigated involves the recent installation of kiosks in the region”, indicated the Rio de Janeiro police, cited by Agência Brasil.
More than 20 agents from different police forces were arrested this week in Rio de Janeiro in several operations, as part of investigations that indicate their links to organized crime.
Investigations by the Federal Police and the Public Ministry of Rio revealed different forms of cooperation between agents and criminal organizations, ranging from protecting illegal gambling venues to extorting drug traffickers and intermediation to favor international criminals.
One of the cases revealed a group made up of civil police officers accused of using the structure of a police station to demand money from members of the Red Command.
In another operation, the police are accused of guaranteeing the armed protection of points of the so-called Jogo do Bicho, as well as the free operation of this illegal game of chance, preventing police actions.
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