According to the police, Edinaldo Pereira Souza heads a faction in Bahia, escaped from jail in 2024 and was seeking refuge in Rio de Janeiro
Edinaldo Pereira Souza, better known by his nickname “Dada”, is identified by authorities as a important leadership of the criminal faction Comando Vermelho (CV) operating in the state of Bahia, more specifically in the tourist region of Caraíva, in Porto Seguro, in the south of Bahia.
The criminal has the status of fugitive from justice since 2024, when managed to escape from a prison unit in Bahia accompanied by another 15 inmates. After escaping, Dada sought refuge in Rio de Janeirotaking refuge in the Red Command in the capital of Rio de Janeiro.
In Rio de Janeiro, Edinaldo initially took shelter in the Rocinha community. However, in recent days, the criminal leader had rented a house in Morro do Vidigal, also in the South Zone of the city. According to investigations, Dada was giving a party on site at the exact moment security forces arrived. Despite the siege, he managed to escape again.
Operation in RJ
The attempt to arrest Edinaldo mobilized a (MP-BA) on Monday morning (20). The action in Vidigal resulted in a intense shooting between police officers e criminalsgenerating panic and major disruptions in the region.
To try to contain the police advance, the faction blocked Avenida Oscar Niemeyer com containers and one bus crossedinterrupting circulation between São Conrado and Leblon until almost 7 am. The confrontation also left around 200 tourists, who had climbed the Dois Irmãos hill to see the sunrise, islanded e ducked amid the exchange of gunfireonly managing to descend around 7:20 am under escort.
Although the main target escaped, police reported that there were no injuries. The operation ended with three prisoners – a woman on the run and two men in the act -, in addition to the seizure of a large amount of drugs, radio transmitters, cell phones, ammunition e large caliber weaponsincluding a rifle and a shotgun.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
