Rio de Janeiro court indicts 26 for extortion and fraud ring

A Rio de Janeiro court has accepted a complaint from the Public Ministry against 26 individuals accused of belonging to a structured criminal network linked to the Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP) faction. The group is accused of committing extortion, robbery involving the restriction of victims' liberty, and fraud.

According to the investigation, the group used fake advertisements on Facebook Marketplace and OLX to sell vehicles. Victims were lured to Belford Roxo, where they were met by armed individuals who robbed them and forced them to perform bank transfers. The group also engaged in real estate scams by posting false rental and sale listings to solicit bank transfers from unsuspecting victims.