Rio Police Operation Hits Criminal Stronghold, Disrupts City and Exposes Organized Crime’s Grip

On June 10, 2025, the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police, supported by military forces, launched a major operation in the Israel Complex, a cluster of favelas in the city’s North Zone.

Official police statements confirm that the operation targeted the Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP), a criminal organization led in the region by Álvaro Malaquias Santa Rosa, known as “Peixão.”

The police aimed to arrest 44 identified traffickers and seize weapons and drugs after a seven-month investigation. As police entered the area, criminals opened fire.

Officers responded, and the exchange forced authorities to close Avenida Brasil and Linha Vermelha, two of Rio’s most vital traffic arteries. These closures lasted over an hour during the morning rush, causing severe disruptions to bus, train, and BRT services.

Two people, a bus driver and a passenger, suffered gunshot wounds but survived after receiving urgent medical care. Police arrested at least 11 suspects and seized three rifles, grenades, and Molotov cocktails.

Officers also demolished a luxury property known as the “drug trafficking resort,” which included a pool, gym, and artificial lake. Authorities state that Peixão built this facility with drug profits and used it to store weapons and host meetings.

Deep Roots of Organized Crime

The property sat in a protected environmental zone and had altered a nearby river’s flow. The TCP, active since 2002, controls several communities in Rio and other Brazilian states.

Official records show the group uses violence, barricades, and surveillance drones to maintain its monopoly on drug sales and public services. Police investigations reveal the TCP systematically intimidates residents, expels rivals, and attacks law enforcement.

The group also enforces religious conformity, with Peixão insisting members follow his evangelical Christian beliefs. This operation highlights the deep roots of organized crime in Rio’s urban economy.

Criminal groups like the TCP generate significant illicit revenue and disrupt legal commerce by controlling territory, extorting businesses, and undermining public safety. The police’s actions, while disruptive, aim to restore order and reduce the economic and social costs of criminal dominance.