Brazilian police rescue woman about to be burned alive by militias in Rio de Janeiro

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The murder was about to take place in the Jesuítas community in Santa Cruz, in the west zone. The agents seized gallons of fuel that would be used in the crime.

The operation was conducted by the task force set up by the police last year to fight militias. The action took place in the west zone and Baixada Fluminense to arrest criminals and repress the income sources of the militia headed by Luiz Antônio da Silva Braga, aka Zinho, brother of Wellington da Silva Braga, aka Ecko, killed in an operation in June 2021.

According to the police, 16 people were arrested. Among them Fagner Penha da Silva, aka Artilheiro, responsible for debt collection and murders. An arrest warrant for murder was served against him.

According to the agents, Artilheiro worked in Ecko’s group. After the death of the militiaman, he began to work as a private security guard for Zinho, the police say. With him were seized rifles, pistols, ammunition, magazines, and ballistic vests belonging to the militia.

During the operation, the police also closed down establishments selling irregular gas and clandestine internet providers.

The operation aimed to prevent crimes such as exploitation of illegal activities controlled by the militia, irregular collection of security and housing fees, installation of clandestine cable TV and internet, irregular storage and trade of gas and water bottles, illegal CNG companies, irregular parcelling of urban land, exploitation and irregular construction, sandbars and other environmental crimes, sale of counterfeit products, smuggling, embezzlement, illegal alternative transportation and commercial establishments exploited and used for money laundering.

The operation is the result of investigations and intelligence efforts that involved the support of the “Disque Denúncia” hotline and 11 police stations.