In September, State Rep. Thiego Raymundo dos Santos Silva, known as TH Goyas, was arrested in a luxury residential apartment in Barra da Tijuca, western district of Rio, as part of Operation Zargon, launched by the Federal Police in collaboration with the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), the Rio Public Ministry (MPRJ), and the Civil Police, through the Integrated Force against Organized Crime (Ficco-RJ). According to the investigation, TH Goyas used his mandate in the Legislative Assembly of Rio (Alerg) to benefit organized crime. He was accused of brokering the purchase and sale of drugs, guns and anti-drone equipment intended for Complexo do Alemão, as well as nominating Gabriel Dias de Oliveira’s wife, Indio do Lixao – who was identified as a drug trafficker and was also arrested – for a parliamentary position. On Wednesday morning, the President of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (Alerg), State Rep. Rodrigo Basilar (Uníao Brasil), was arrested in an operation launched by the National Front on suspicion of leaking confidential information from the investigation.
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At the time Operation Zarjun was launched, 18 preventive arrest warrants had been issued, 15 of which were actually served on the day the operation was launched, 3 September. In addition to Th., the following were arrested: Gabriel Dias de Oliveira, an Indian from Lixao, identified as a drug trafficker; Luiz Eduardo Cunha Gonçalves, known as Dodo, advisor to T. H. Goias; former Secretary Alessandro Pietompera Caracina; Federal Police delegate Gustavo Steele, who was on duty at Galeão Airport; And three military police officers. Eight other people were also arrested. 22 search and seizure warrants were also issued, with actions being taken at addresses in Barra da Tijuca, Fregesia, in the Western Region, and in Copacabana, in the Southern Region. In Alaj, federal police officers and prosecutors collected a bag of seized items.
The Federal Police stated that TH Jóias’ activities were not limited to one faction: he also organized actions for the Third Pure Command (TCP) and for the Amigos dos Amigos (ADA) faction.
— TH benefited greatly from the import of anti-UAVs, which were purchased in large quantities for CV, TCP and ADA. The person in charge of these negotiations was Índio, but since he could not attend because he was one of the key members of the Red Command, he used Dudu to mediate. Dodo was an advisor to TH. In addition, other advisers to the Legislative Assembly are being investigated, and a third has already been arrested for his involvement in drone smuggling – informed Fabio Galvão, Superintendent of the National Police in Rio.
In a statement after the operation, the state’s Civil Police Minister, Delegate Felipe Cory, said that TH participated in the events and filmed videos alongside the authorities specifically to strengthen himself within the Comando Vermelho.
Indio do Lixao, one of those arrested in Operation Zargon, has been identified as a drug trafficker responsible for transporting R$120 million in five years, according to police forces. He would be Luciano’s right-hand man Martiniano da Silva, known as Pezão, the leader of the CV of the Complexo do Alemão, acting as a kind of treasurer of the faction. Also according to authorities, Indio do Lixao paid police officers to ensure the protection of gang members.
Also in September, a federal police delegate, Gustavo Stil, was arrested and assigned to the company’s unit at Rio’s Galeão International Airport. Stteel frequently shared a routine of trips to destinations like New York, Bariloche, and Angra dos Reis. In the photos, he was wearing luxury watches, such as a Rolex GMT-Master II, worth about R$100,000.
The Prosecutor of Justice, António José Campos Moreira, said at the time of the operation that it could not be said that drug trafficking elected TH Goyas, but highlighted that the parliamentarian was elected to serve the interests of the faction.
The parliamentarian was elected to use his mandate to benefit the criminal organization. This is because before he became a politician, he was already part of the Red Command, including being found guilty of involvement. He said the simple fact of exercising his mandate and appointing directly relevant advisors showed that his role was for the benefit of the criminal organisation.