A major operation against drug traffickers in Rio de Janeiro has killed at least 64 people, including four police officers, in what authorities described as the deadliest episode in the battle against organized crime.
Police in Brazil have dramatically increased security ahead of Prince William’s arrival in Rio following the city’s bloody “day of terror”. At least 64 people, including four police officers, were killed on Tuesday and 80 suspects were arrested in the bombing to prevent the feared gang, known as Comando Vermelho in Brazil, from expanding its operations. The government is desperate to arrest its leader before William arrives on Friday to receive his Earthshot environmental award. Today, armed units were part of one of the largest manhunts ever carried out in the country against a ruthless mafia boss accused of more than 100 executions. A Crimestoppers-style organization has offered a record reward for information leading to the capture of Edgard Alves Andrade, 55, whose nicknames include Urso, which means bear in English.
A source told the Mirror: “With the arrival of Prince William and other dignitaries in Rio for the ceremony, security had already been stepped up. But after the unprecedented bloodshed now spilled during fierce gang clashes, the government has recruited thousands more officers and military personnel. All eyes will be on Rio while William is there, and there is genuine concern that violence could flare up again while he is in Brazil.”
Andrade has been identified as the leader of the powerful Red Command gang, the target of a massive police operation involving 2,500 officers in two favelas in Rio de Janeiro. Alves, also known as Doca da Penha, escaped the war operation in the northern favelas of Rio Penha and Alemao and was still at large last night.
Authorities have now confirmed there is a £14,000 reward on his head, marking the largest reward ever offered for Disque Denuncia, which was launched in Rio 30 years ago and has been replicated in several other Brazilian states. Officials promised callers they could help them catch the ruthless fugitive with “guaranteed anonymity.”
A reward of that size has only been offered once before by the Crimestoppers-style organization and that was 25 years ago for Rio drug trafficker Fernandinho Beira-Mar. Alves has been identified as the mastermind of a triple murder that occurred in October 2023 in the tourist area of Tijuca, in Rio de Janeiro, when three doctors attending a conference were mistaken for rival gangs.
The Brazilian trio were shot dead in a hail of bullets that lasted 28 seconds while they were dining on a restaurant terrace. He has also been accused of ordering the murder of the hitmen who executed the doctors. The bodies of the four alleged gunmen were discovered days after the horrific crime in two cars in a nearby neighborhood.
Alves, dubbed Rio’s number one enemy by local media, has also been implicated in the murders of three children from Belford Roxo, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, who disappeared in December 2020. The bodies of Lucas Matheus, nine; Alejandro da Silva, 11; and Fernando Henrique, 12, have never been found.Investigators said that on the eve of the first anniversary of their disappearance, they had been tortured and killed because they stole a cage from the uncle of a drug dealer.
Alves was born in the state of Paraiba, in northeastern Brazil, but grew up in Vila Cruzeiro, one of the most dangerous favelas in Rio, where there are shootings every day. He has been on the run since escaping from prison in 2017. Local reports today said he had 26 outstanding warrants. Disque Denuncia said yesterday in a statement alongside the Alves wanted poster: “Today Disque Denuncia published the poster offering a reward of 100,000 Brazilian reals for information leading the police to capture Edgard Alves Andrade, 55, known as Doca da Penha or Urso.
“This is the largest reward in the history of the service, along with the reward of the same amount offered for information leading to Fernandinho Beira-Mar in 2000. There are more than 20 arrest warrants issued against him. He is identified as one of the leaders of the Comando Vermelho, a criminal faction targeted by a major operation by Rio de Janeiro security forces in the Alemao and Penha complexes.Doca was born in Paraiba and grew up in Vila Cruzeiro, in the North Zone of Rio. According to the police, he was already hiding in Morro do São Simão, in Queimados, in the Baixada Fluminense. A fugitive from the prison system, Disque Denuncia highlights that Doca is being investigated for more than 100 homicides, including the execution of children and the disappearance of residents. In October 2023, Doca was identified as the mastermind behind the execution of three doctors and the attempted murder of a fourth man in Barra da Tijuca, in the southwestern area of Rio. The victims were attending a medical conference and were mistaken for militiamen from Rio das Pedras. Investigations showed that Doca later sentenced the doctors’ murderers to death. Doca has an arrest warrant for the case of the three missing children in Belford Roxo, in the Baixada Fluminense. According to investigations, the trafficker ordered the execution of all those who killed the children. The bodies of those responsible have not been found, nor have those of the children.Rio Governor Claudio Castro said yesterday that the city was “at war” as shootouts raged between criminals and police, calling it “the largest operation in the history of Rio de Janeiro.” He said in a video on social media: “This is no longer a common crime, it is narcoterrorism.” The police raid had reportedly been planned for more than a year. The Red Command, the target gang of the operation, is the oldest criminal faction in Brazil. He emerged from the prisons of Rio during the military dictatorship and now runs important drug trafficking and extortion networks throughout South America.Footage showed armored vehicles moving through narrow alleys as gunshots rang out and thick black smoke rose from burning barricades. Local media said gang members used drones to drop explosives on police.
