Bahia police officers arrested in Vinculum operation over youth killings

Three police officers were arrested on Friday in Salvador and Lauro de Freitas as part of Operation Vinculum, a joint action by the Bahia Public Prosecutor's Office (MPBA), the State Public Security Secretariat and the Military Police. The officers are investigated for the September 2025 killings of 21‑year‑old Mateus Daniel Chagas da Silva and 16‑year‑old Kaíque Reis dos Santos in the São Marcos neighbourhood of Salvador. Prosecutors allege the victims were executed and that the crime scene was altered to support a claim of an armed confrontation. The operation, coordinated by the Special Operational Public Security Group (Geosp) together with the Special Organized Crime Combat Group (Gaeco), the Police Corrections Board and the integrated correctional force (Force), carried out arrest and search warrants at the agents’ homes and workplaces. Judicial orders issued by the 2nd Court of the 2nd Jury Court of Salvador authorized the measures, and the investigation continues to collect further evidence about the alleged murders and procedural fraud.