Remember the times drug trafficker Peixão managed to escape the police

Álvaro Malaquias Santa Rosa, known as Peixão, head of the Third Pure Command of the Israeli complex, is one of the drug traffickers most wanted by the Rio civil police. Last Tuesday, his family was approached by the Federal Highway Police (PRF) on their way to Bolivia, raising suspicions that he might be on the run in that country – his relatives were later released. Over the past year, several operations have been carried out in the five communities that make up the complex. In one of them, he even ordered drug traffickers to shoot towards Avenida Brasil to force the agents to withdraw from the territory. In any case, Peixão managed to escape. Remember the cases.

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On the morning of October 24, 2024, military police were conducting an operation at the Israel Complex, when drug traffickers responded and fired shots at Avenida Brasil, which had to be closed several times that day. Due to the situation, the city has entered alert stage 2, a risk counter created by the town hall. Three people on the road died and three others were injured. The drug dealer fled.

See images of the civil and military police operation in the Israeli compound in the northern area of Rio

A car set on fire by drug traffickers closes the side lane of Avenida Brasil, near Cidade Alta: bandits also set up roadblocks throughout the favela to prevent the advance of police forces — Photo: Domingos Peixoto / Agência O Globo

Drivers take shelter on the wall of Avenida Brasil during filming — Photo: Video reproduction

Civil and military police operation in the Israeli compound, in the northern area of Rio — Photo: Domingos Peixoto / Agência O Globo

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In the community of Parada de Lucas, the police pass through a place called Ponte Verde — Photo: Gabriel de Paiva / Agência O Globo

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Civil and military police operations at the Complexo de Israel, in the northern zone of Rio, caused panic among residents and people passing through Avenida Brasil and Linha Vermelha, near Cidade Alta (in Cordovil) — Photo: Domingos Peixoto / Agência O Globo

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Avenida Brasil and Linha Vermelha, near Cidade Alta (in Cordovil) were closed, in both directions, for about an hour — Photo: Domingos Peixoto / Agência O Globo

In February this year, civil and military police launched an emergency operation to arrest him after learning that he was hiding in a house in Cidade Alta, Cordovil, North Zone. Once again, Avenida Brasil had to be closed and four people were shot. It was one of the closest officers got to the drug dealer, who managed to escape through the back of a residence.

In January, Lt. Col. Ivan Blaz, a former military police spokesman, went to a building in Flamengo looking for Peixão. He had received anonymous information that the drug trafficker was visiting a relative and had decided to carry out the operation without judicial authorization. However, the situation got out of control and security cameras filmed the officer tackling the doorman to the ground. He was transferred to the General Directorate of Personnel, the “refrigerator” of the company, and became accused of what happened.

The approach of Peixão’s relatives took place on the BR-262, in Campo Grande (MS), after the PRF received information from the Civil Police. The drivers were transporting the drug dealer’s wife, three children and a nephew. Police had information that Peixão was trying to flee with his family and may be in one of the vehicles. Another possibility being explored is that he was already abroad, waiting for his family. The detainees were taken to the police station and then released. Peixão was not found.

During a search of the vehicles, police found several pieces of jewelry, which contained inscriptions referring to the fugitive who is the leader of a criminal faction, as “Mano Arão”. A thick gold chain displayed a Star of David just above the medallion, with the inscription “Israeli Defense Forces” and the acronym IDF. There were also numerous rings, bracelets and watches, including Michael Kors. Peixão’s nephew claimed that he was the owner of the jewelry.

The PRF reported that all those involved were arrested on suspicion of money laundering or concealment of property, rights, values and promotion, constitution, financing or integration, personally or through an intermediary, of a criminal organization. The case was referred to the federal police. After their testimony, Peixão’s relatives were released.