On Friday morning (28/11), the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro launched another phase of the containment operation, this time against the gas scheme controlled by the Comando Vermelho (CV) in Complexo do Lins, in the northern region.
The action, led by DP 26 (Todos Santos) with support from DP 25 (Engenho Novo) and Core, led to the dismantling of the secret warehouse that had a monopoly on the sale of records in the community. At least 700 units were confiscated.
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According to investigators, the group controlling Linz sabotaged the regular supply of piped gas to force residents to buy the product exclusively from the warehouse linked to the trafficking.
The price, which should have been around R$100, came to R$300 through the traffickers’ imposition. Any attempt to buy from abroad or order delivery from other distributors is blocked under threat.
The concessionaires responsible for supply confirmed that on several occasions the technical teams were expelled and prevented from restoring service. Gas companies also reported that they were unable to deliver cylinders to the area for fear of retaliation.
Investigators discovered that the warehouse targeted by the operation served as the economic arm of the Vermelho commando. The trade was exclusive outside the law and monthly payments were made to drug lords to maintain the monopoly.
But this practice was not limited to gas. Linz has established itself as a center for CV-related criminal activities, including the cloning of stolen vehicles, the storage and transportation of diverted goods, and drug trafficking.
The parallel economic system is seen as responsible for financing armed attacks, territorial expansions, and routine intimidation operations.
Through Friday’s operation, the Civil Police seeks to collect new evidence and interrupt the financial collection that supports Comando Vermelho’s operations in the area.
This measure falls within the framework of a series of government program operations that, since its inception, have resulted in the arrest of more than 250 people, the neutralization of 136 criminals, the seizure of 470 weapons, including 189 rifles, and the withdrawal of more than 50,000 pieces of ammunition from circulation.