Police attribute expansion of Comando Vermelho in Rio to STF decision

In the final report of Action for Noncompliance with Fundamental Precepts (ADPF) 635, also known as “ADPF das favelas”, the National Council of Justice (CNJ) recorded information provided by the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro (PC-RJ) that associates the expansion of the state’s largest criminal faction, Comando Vermelho (CV), following the decision of the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), Edson Fachin, who restricted police operations in Rio’s favelas.

“After the implementation of ADPF 635, which imposed restrictions on police action, there was a significant increase in territorial clashes. It became evident that Comando Vermelho, the largest criminal organization in Rio de Janeiro, is expanding its operations and seeking to maximize its territorial domains. They have waged wars over territorial disputes throughout the West Zone, seeking to take total control of areas such as Gardênia Azul, Rio das Pedras, Muzema, Tijuquinha, Morro do Banco, Cesar Maia and Terreirão, which has caused disorder throughout the region. Barra da Tijuca, Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Itanhangá, Jacarepaguá and Vargens, significantly increasing the population’s feeling of insecurity”, says an excerpt from the CNJ report when reproducing the information passed on by the police.

Also questioned by the CNJ about the expansion of criminal organizations in the state in the context of ADPF 635, the Public Ministry recognized the growth of the five main factions operating in Rio (Amigos dos Amigos, Comando Vermelho, Milícia, Povo de Israel and Terceiro Comando Puro) , but I was unable to specify quantitatively the expansion of each one.

“The extent of territorial control exercised by the different Criminal Organizations in the State of Rio de Janeiro is an eminently dynamic fact, as is evident, including from the recurring reports in the press about armed clashes between criminal groups that constantly seek to expand their territorial domain. , either by advancing into areas previously under the yoke of another Orcrim, or by expanding its operations to areas adjacent to the territory previously under its influence. Due to the aforementioned constancy in the dynamics of armed dispute between criminal groups for territorial control, there is a permanent demand for collecting information, including intelligence, in real time, to update data on the territorial dominance exercised by each of the criminal factions” , informed the Public Ministry when instructing the CNJ to capture such information from the State secretariats of Military Police and Civil Police.

Forwarded to Minister Fachin on April 8, the CNJ report is the result of a Working Group (GT) established at the beginning of January this year.

At the end of the report, the CNJ said it had found in Rio the adequate functioning of judicial shifts and a good functioning of the Public Ministry.

The report also praises the functioning of the Police Operations Monitoring Panel, which was increased after the advent of the ADPF in the favelas.

The CNJ also suggested “reevaluating the hierarchical structure of the technical-scientific police of the state of Rio de Janeiro, in order to reinforce its independence and institutional autonomy; the reevaluation of the technical-scientific police personnel, with the aim of filling the currently existing deficit of professionals; and the increase in the allocation of public resources aimed at the Technical Scientific Police, guaranteeing the acquisition of equipment and materials necessary for the daily work of the State’s experts”.

This is not the first report produced by the CNJ on the topic. As reported by People’s Gazetteanother report presented by the CNJ in April last year called for more restrictions on police operations and the opening of data to NGOs.

The group had 35 members, including judges, prosecutors, university professors and NGO representatives. The list also includes six police officers (three military, two civilian and one federal).

Among the eight NGOs that participated in the report, six of them are or have already been financed by Open Society, the foundation of billionaire George Soros that advocates the extrication and legalization of drugs.

Also, as recorded by People’s GazetteMinister Fachin has been pressuring the Rio de Janeiro police to comply with the plan suggested by the CNJ working group made in partnership with NGOs.

The minister’s actions increased the strain on the security forces by violating the federal pact provided for in the Constitution, which guarantees states autonomy to formulate their own public policies, such as security.

“ADPF das Favelas”

The Claim of Non-compliance with Fundamental Precept (ADPF) 635 was proposed, in November 2019, by the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) and NGOs linked to human rights. At least one of these NGOs has been accused of maintaining close links with organized crime.

In June 2020, within the scope of the ADPF, minister Edson Fachin banned police operations in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro during the health crisis caused by Covid-19.

As a result, the measure ended up giving space to strengthen drug trafficking activities in the city’s hills, including the intensification of tactical training for drug traffickers.

In February 2022, the STF established a series of conditions for the police to once again carry out operations in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Minister Fachin’s previous decision said that raids by security forces in poor communities to arrest suspects should only occur in “exceptional situations”. However, it was not clear what circumstances would allow the operations and what limits they should observe.