On Friday morning (28), the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro carried out action against a scheme that, according to the investigation, forced residents of Complexo do Lins, in the north of Rio, to buy gas cylinders in a single warehouse.
The operation executes search and seizure warrants to collect new evidence and there are no records of arrests. About 700 cylinders were seized.
According to the investigation, Comando Vermelho traders damaged and cut off piped gas supplies in the area to sell gas cylinders at a price higher than the market value.
While the average cost of a cylinder is just over R$100 in northern Rio, police say residents have paid up to R$300 for a cylinder.
The report contacted Naturgy, the concessionaire responsible for pipeline gas distribution in Rio, for comment on the operation, but it has not yet commented.
Police allege that technicians called to retrieve supplies were threatened and prevented from entering the community. Gas cylinder distributors told police they also avoided making deliveries there for fear of retaliation.
Agents determined that only one gas warehouse continued to operate in the area. The name of the company was not revealed. According to the investigation, the institution had exclusive selling rights and passed amounts to drug traffickers. For police, the property served as a financial support structure for illegal activities.
Police also say the suspects maintained a network replicating stolen vehicles at the Linz complex.