Joint Police Operation Targets TCP Gang in Rio de Janeiro's Complexo de Israel

The Civil and Military Police of Rio de Janeiro launched a joint operation on Tuesday, April 25, to execute dozens of arrest warrants against members of the Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP) criminal faction in the Complexo de Israel region. The operation targets several communities in the city's North Zone, including Cinco Bocas, Pica-Pau, Cidade Alta, Parada de Lucas, and Vigário Geral. According to police, the action follows months of intelligence work and investigations aimed at weakening the gang's structure. One man had been arrested by the time of the latest update.

This offensive follows a series of escalations over the previous few days. On Friday, April 21, the Military Police began the first phase of an occupation in Cidade Alta, which resulted in intense gunfire, the discovery of explosives, and one death in a confrontation. A bus driver was also wounded by a stray bullet during that event. On Monday, April 24, a second phase of the occupation began in Vigário Geral and Parada de Lucas. This led to further clashes and the temporary closure of major thoroughfares, including Avenida Brasil, Linha Vermelha, and Rodovia Washington Luís.

In retaliation for the police presence, criminals set fire to four trucks and blocked Avenida Brasil for approximately one hour on Monday. Reports also indicate that armed men with rifles sought refuge inside a water utility unit in Pavuna. The ongoing instability has disrupted public services, forcing schools and health units to alter their operating hours and causing bus lines to change their routes.