21/05/2022 – An amateur football player was killed by drug dealers after mistakenly entering Morro do Cruz, in Tijuca, North Zone.
23/05/2022 – A police car was shot in the community of Rocinha, South Zone. A woman walking on the sidewalk was hit by a stray bullet.
24/05/2022 – A joint operation was conducted between the Special Operations Battalion (BOPE), the Federal Police (PF) and the Federal Highway Police (PRF) and left 23 people dead in Vila Cruzeiro, Penha, in the North Zone. Most were suspected of being part of the organized crime, but one victim would be a resident, shot by a stray bullet that hit her inside her house. The command of the Military Police stated that the joint operation with the Federal Highway Police (PRF) had been planned for months but was launched as an emergency to prevent an alleged migration of criminals to Rocinha favela. Agents were looking to arrest Comando Vermelho leaders hiding in the complex and were shot at around 4h. 13 rifles, pistols, grenades, 20 vehicles and a large amount of drugs were seized. This was the second most lethal police operation in the history of the state, only behind the operation that took place in Jacarezinho, in May 2021, with 28 deaths.
What the authorities say:
On a social network President Jair Bolsonaro congratulated the police on the operation. He said: “Congratulations to the BOPE (Special Operations Battalion) and @PMERJ (Rio de Janeiro’s Military Police) warriors who neutralized at least 20 criminals linked to drug trafficking in a confrontation, after being shot during an operation against criminal faction leaders”.
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On the same social network, Rio de Janeiro’s governor Claudio Castro said: “Whoever points a gun at the police is pointing a gun at the whole society. Every death is regrettable, but we all know that our responsibilities require us to be prepared for confrontation (…)”.
The BOPE commander defended the operation: “We had difficulty moving forward. We have committed 80 men to this mission. The criminals responded very violently and were neutralized.”
At the same time, authors of ADPF 635 filed a request with the Federal Supreme Court (STF) for Rio de Janeiro to prepare a new plan to reduce police lethality within 60 days.
The Allegation of Noncompliance with Fundamental Precept 635, known as the “ADPF das Favelas” questions Rio de Janeiro’s public security policy. It was based on it that, in 2020, the Supreme Court (STF) restricted police operations in communities during the Covid pandemic.
The STF also issued a statement showing “great concern at the news of another police action with such a high rate of lethality”, however, it informs “that it learned of the prompt action of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and that it is confident that the STF’s decision will be carried out, with the investigation of all the circumstances of said operation”.
The NGO Human Rights Watch also issued a statement lamenting the confrontations and said the state need a new public security policy. It also called for an immediate investigation into the “circumstances of each death and each wounded, as well as the motivation and plan of the operation”.
United Nations’ Representatives in Brazil said they were “shocked”: “We recommend that the Brazilian authorities lead this investigation in a careful, objective and speedy way to ensure responsibility and reparation for victims and their families”.
24/05/2022 – A teacher had her car shot by drug dealers from the Vila Aliança favela, in Bangu, West Zone. According to the Military Police, criminals would have mistaken the car in which she was with her son for a police car. They were in search of a hotel when they entered the location after being told by an app.
Our analysis:
In Rio we have areas, mostly poor, that are dominated by the organized crime. In these areas, criminals impose rules for the entry of people and vehicles. Everyone who doesn’t follow the rules and people they don’t know are at serious risk of being shot. Therefore, it is important for people unfamiliar with the city to plan their routes before leaving. If you find yourself lost somewhere, it is important to always stay on the main roads and, if necessary, look for a safe establishment such as a gas station and contact someone you trust. If you are unable to do that, look for a police officer. Pay attention because they are always uniformed and identified by badge. It is worth noting that apps still do not have markings for high risks areas.
24/05/2022 – An attempted car robbery on Brasil Ave. in Vigário Geral, West Zone ended with a suspect dead. According to the Military Police, the man reacted and there was a confrontation.
24/05/2022 – A young woman was punched during a robbery in Tijuca, North Zone. The girl needed to be hospitalized to undergo reconstructive surgery on her face. The robbers approached the victim on two bicycles and, while trying to get the cell phone, one of them punched the young woman, who fell to the ground. Still, the criminal kept assaulting her until she handed over the phone.
Our analysis:
Pedestrian robberies are extremely common in Rio de Janeiro. Robbers’ main objective is to obtain the valuable objects people carry and escape as quick as possible. That’s why they tend to get nervous and therefore aggressive. Hence, it is important to try to remain calm and quickly deliver everything they ask for. Do not resist or the consequences of the incident can be worse than a financial loss.
26/05/2022 – The Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ) and the Internal Affairs Department of the Military Police (PM) arrested nine police officers in Operação Mercenários. Altogether, 11 PMs were wanted for corruption, torture, fraud, and misconduct. The Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime (Gaeco/MPRJ) claims that the group kidnapped criminals through torture and ransom payments, sold weapons, leaked operations, and set up ambush to surprise drug dealers. As an example, prosecutors mentions that the police demanded R$ 1 million from Leonardo Serpa de Jesus, also known as Leo Marrinha, head of drug trafficking in Cantagalo-Pavão-Pavãozinho favela, in Ipanema neighborhood, South Zone. Conversations extracted from one police officer’s cell phone revealed that the amount would have been divided between military police and civil police officers in an arrangement for the drug dealer to be released after being arrested by the agents. In addition to the arrests, 35 search warrants were carried out at addresses linked to the defendant. Money, jewelry, weapons, ammunition, and radio communicators were apprehended.
26/05/2022 – Civil Police Task Force inspected ten junkyards in the North Zone. They were identified as possible suppliers of large recyclers, being the first to buy stolen materials, in addition to being located in areas with the highest number of crimes of this type. Five facilities were closed off and five people were arrested. The action aimed to repress and prevent illegal trade and theft of metallic materials.
26/05/2022 – Civil Police arrested five members of a gang known as “Bonde das Gordas”, which practiced thefts in several stores in South Zone. 27/05/2022 – A man was killed during a robbery in Méier, North Zone. He was driving his car with his wife and stopped to drop off a friend, criminals in another car approached the couple and announced the robbery. They took the victim’s wife’s belongings but did not take the car. As they fled, they shot and the man was hit in the chest. The Capital Homicide Police Station (DHC) is investigating the case.
