After the mega-operation on Tuesday (28) in Rio de Janeiro, the state’s Civil Police pointed out that the Complexes of Alemão and Penha They distribute ten tons of drugs per month and function as a kind of “HQ” (headquarters) of the CV (Comando Vermelho. The information was released during a press conference on Friday (31).
According to the corporation, the two communities would be “command, decision-making and tactical training centers” and that “members received instructions in weaponry, shooting, use of explosives and combat tactics in these locations”.
Furthermore, the police say that Alemão and Penha served as supply hubs, distributing drugs and weapons to other areas controlled by Comando Vermelho. The criminals would be responsible for delivering at least 50 rifles monthly to other members of the faction.
The researchers’ survey indicates that at least 24 communities in Rio de Janeiro are supplied by drug trafficking. Among them are the Salgueiro Complexin São Gonçalo, to Rocinha, Complexo da Maré, Jacarezinho and Complexo do Lins.
In the most lethal megaoperation in the state’s historywhich resulted in the deaths of 121 people, 100 rifles were seized.
Europe’s weapons, drones and camouflage clothing
Over the years, CV has improved the “war arsenal” which he uses in clashes against the police and rival groups in Rio de Janeiro.
During the mega-operation on Tuesday (28), members of the faction used weapons manufactured in Europe, technologies such as drones, as well as camouflage clothing.
The new tactics in “pitched battles” and the weapons used show a kind of “war escalation”. Weapons used by the armed forces of South American countries were found among the 91 rifles seized during the police action.
Among the weapons seized are models of the Venezuela, Argentina, Peru and Brazil. The rifles seized are mostly 5.56 and 7.62 calibers, manufactured mainly on the Old Continent. According to the Civil Police, many arrive in Brazil via routes that pass through Paraguay.
Evidence suggests that criminals only transport parts of the weapons and that they complete the components with parts acquired legally over the internet.
According to Paulo Storani, former BOPE captain, today the CV has access to weapons such as G3 model riflesa weapon considered extremely sophisticated.
According to him, they are seen in the possession of members of the AKs-47 factionmodel of rifle used by European and Venezuelan armies, e FAstype used by the Brazilian armed forces.
According to security forces, during the mega-operation, members of the Red Command used drones to launch grenades against agents.
Drones as “weapons”
Furthermore, technological equipment is used by the faction for monitoring police actions.
The MPRJ complaint, which served as a starting point for the operation, highlights how crime has modernized. According to the document, Carlos “Gardenal”, integrante do CVwas responsible for guide the acquisition of surveillance drones.
There are even exchanges of messages between him and another accused known as “Grandão”, about the use of higher technology drones to carry out, for example, night monitoring.
“We have to adapt to technology, understand?”said “Gardenal” in one of the messages.
