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The Rio Branco Military Police, through the 2nd Battalion Tactical Force Team, arrested four criminals involved in a robbery and kidnapping of an app driver. The action took place on Wednesday night (22) in the Taquari neighborhood, after an intense search for the stolen vehicle.
The victim was tied, gagged and had his cell phone stolen/Photo: ContilNet
The case began when the driver, responding to a ride request made by an unidentified woman to a steakhouse and pizzeria on Estrada do Amapá, was surprised by an armed couple who caught him and forced him to continue to the Menino Jesus branch. At the scene, two other armed individuals joined the group, making a total of four criminals. The victim was tied up, gagged and had his cell phone stolen, while the suspects declared that they would use the vehicle, a white VW/Polo, to “make a tape”, that is, carry out attacks against the rival Bonde dos 13 faction.
The victim was abandoned about 200 meters from Via Verde and managed to call for help. After calling 190, the police were mobilized. During patrolling, the vehicle was spotted on Rua do Passeio and intercepted by authorities. The occupants, identified as LOF, aged 17, TLCC, aged 16, Margarido Freire Costa, aged 23, and Wilquis Clei Alves de Souza, aged 19, offered no resistance and were arrested. One of the suspects, Margarido Freire, had an open arrest warrant.
The victim was abandoned about 200 meters from Via Verde and managed to call for help/Photo: ContilNet
According to police information, the group, belonging to the Comando Vermelho (CV) faction, planned to use the vehicle for attacks against members of the rival Bonde dos 13 (B13) faction. The detainees confessed that they were going to look for a fifth partner to carry out criminal actions in the region.
Also according to the police, a similar incident was recorded the previous Sunday (19), involving an attempted robbery of another app driver. The victim recognized one of the detained suspects as the person who fired shots at his vehicle, but chose not to officially identify himself.
The victim recognized one of the detained suspects as the person who fired shots at his vehicle/Photo: ContilNet
The case reflects the escalation of violence in the city’s 2nd District, which has been the scene of clashes between criminal factions. The attacks, often carried out using stolen vehicles, have caused concern among residents and required quick responses from security forces.
The suspects were taken to the Flagrantes Police Station (Defla) for legal proceedings. None of them presented injuries or bruises during the arrest, which followed the protocols provided for by law. The investigation remains under the responsibility of the Civil Police.
