Rio de Janeiro police arrest drug manager suspected in officer's death

Alexandre Serra de Souza, known as ‘Xandão’, was arrested in the Muquiço favela in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone. He is suspected of involvement in a shooting attack that killed civil police officer Carlos Alberto Freire Neto on July 8.

Authorities identified Souza as a drug trafficking manager in the region. The arrest was the result of a joint operation between the Civil Police, the Homicide Police Station of Baixada Fluminense (DHBF), the 59th DP (Duque de Caxias), and the Military Police (9th BPM).

In addition to the suspected involvement in the officer's death, Souza was subject to an arrest warrant for drug trafficking, money laundering, and criminal organization. Investigations are ongoing to identify other individuals involved in the July attack, which occurred while officers were conducting field duties in the community.