Former state lawmaker Tiigo Raymundo dos Santos Silva, 36, known as TH Goias, was taken on Wednesday (3) to testify before the Federal Police, who arrested the president of Alerg, Rodrigo Basilar (Uníao Brasil) on the same day.
TH has been detained since September on suspicion of working for CV (Comando Vermelho).
The National Front removed the former MP from the Jericino complex, in the western district of Rio de Janeiro, and took him to the company’s control body, in the port area of the city. The operation targets suspected leaks of confidential information that would hamper the investigation that led to TH’s arrest. Bacelar was appointed responsible for passing on internal data from the investigation, according to PF.
The former MP stayed at police headquarters for just under two hours – arriving around 1:20pm and leaving at 3pm – and remained silent. His lawyer, Rafael Faria, stated that the defense was not able to review the records of the operation.
The Foundation confirms that the obstruction of investigations occurred because public officials warned the former MP about the attack. On the day Operation Zarjon was launched, in September, Rio’s prosecutor, Antonio José Campos Moreira, had already said there was difficulty locating him. He was not at his home in Barra da Tijuca when teams arrived, and was not found until hours later at a friend’s house.
THJ was arrested on September 3 in a joint operation by the Civil and Federal Police, the Public Ministry and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which detained 14 other people, including a direct advisor to the then MP.
The authorities claim that there is evidence that the parliamentarian used his mandate for the benefit of the Red Command and conducted negotiations related to drug and weapons trafficking.
According to the civilian police, investigations gathered “strong evidence” that he brokered the purchase and sale of guns, drugs, and anti-drone equipment. These devices were used, according to the complaint, to prevent police operations in areas controlled by the faction. The Public Prosecutor’s Office also accuses TH of appointing people investigated for involvement in CV to positions at Alerj.
Campos Moreira even stated that the then-MP’s mandate served “primarily and solely” for the criminal organization.
However, according to the Public Prosecutor, the former MP left the house the day before his arrest “completely untidy”, which, for the Public Prosecutor’s Office, indicates an attempt to escape and destroy possible traces.
After his arrest, the Multilateral Development Bank decided to expel him. On Wednesday (3), the party published on social media the ruling that canceled his membership, and reaffirmed that he was no longer part of the party with which he began his political career.
Born in Morro do Fupa, in northern Rio, he grew up in his father’s jewelry business and inherited the business after his death. He transformed the studio into a luxury brand and gained fame in the art world by producing personalized pieces for celebrities such as Neymar, Vinny Jr., Adriano Emperador and Ludmila.
But the rise has become a target for investigation. Part of the jewelry made by the company, according to later findings, was made of stolen gold.
In addition to work, TH approached the world of samba and social projects. It sponsored events, financed athletes and musicians, and distributed carnival trunks. Entry into politics occurred through former police officer Marcos Falcon, then Portela’s boss, who died in 2016 during a city council campaign.
TH received 15,015 votes in the 2022 elections and inherited the seat after the death of MP Ottone Moura Di Paolo. The immediate replacement, Raffaele Picciani (MDB), remained in the Sports Secretariat and made way for his installation. In 2024, after obtaining a habeas corpus order to respond to operations freely, he strengthened his mandate and became head of the Allerg Civil Defense Committee.
Criminal history
This year’s arrest was not the first. In 2017, Th was detained for nine months and convicted of money laundering. At the time, investigators said he used the jewelry store to launder drug proceeds and transfer information obtained from police officers to rival factions – CV, TCP (Third Pure Command) and ADA (Friends of Friends) – in exchange for a weekly payment of R$11,000.
He also faces charges of drug trafficking, corruption, conspiracy and illegal arms trafficking. Authorities assert that in addition to mediating negotiations on behalf of Comando Vermelho, TH was involved in the forensic accounting driving drug trafficking in Rio.