Comando Vermelho corruption investigation in Rio de Janeiro

As part of Operation Zargun, the Tribunal Regional Federal da 2ª Região (TRF2) has accepted an indictment against former state deputy Thiego Raimundo de Oliveira Santos, known as ‘TH Joias’, and five other individuals. The group is accused of participating in a criminal organization linked to the Comando Vermelho (CV) faction.

The investigation alleges that the group infiltrated the Rio de Janeiro Legislative Assembly (Alerj) and various state secretariats to facilitate illegal activities, including drug trafficking, smuggling, and the illegal trade of weapons and ammunition imported from Paraguay. The indictment further claims the group provided intelligence on police operations and attempted to influence public appointments for gang associates.

A key component of the alleged criminal activity involved the sale of specialized anti-drone equipment imported from China, designed to sabotage police monitoring. Some of these signal blockers were reportedly priced as low as R$ 750,000. Evidence suggests the organization also conducted business with rival factions, such as Amigos dos Amigos (ADA) and Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP), involving the sale of cocaine and diverted firearms.

Among those indicted are Gabriel Dias de Oliveira, Luiz Eduardo Cunha Gonçalves, former state secretary Alessandro Pitombeira Carracena, and Federal Police delegate Gustavo Stteel. The court has ordered the transfer of TH Joias to a federal penitentiary.