Summaryโ of the Article: Red Command (Comando โฃVermelho) โin Rio de Janeiro
This article details the growing power and evolving โฃtactics of โthe red Command (Comandoโ vermelho – CV), a major Brazilian โcriminal association, particularly in Rio de Janeiro. Here’s โขa breakdown of the key points:
1. Deep Infiltration & Corruption:
* Bribery & Negotiation: The CV operates through individuals like “Penha” (“Grandรฃo”) who activelyโฃ negotiate bribes with the Militaryโข Police (specifically those in Pacification Police Units) to reduce police presence and crackdowns. โฃ This demonstrates a significant level of corruption โwithin law enforcement.
* Directโข Communication with Police: “Grandรฃo” even had a dedicated phone line for โcommunicatingโค with police and leveragedโ his connections to help โan officer recover a stolen vehicle.
* Judicial Corruption: The article highlights โa concerning issue of judges being investigated for selling sentences,contributing to a โขcycle of arrest โand release.
2.Sophisticated Organization & โCommunication:
* Hierarchical Structure: The CV has a rigid chain โof command with clear orders and severe punishments for disobedience.
* WhatsApp as a Command Center: Traffickers utilize WhatsAppโข groups for:
โค *โค Issuing โคorders regarding drug sales and security.
โข * Managing sales points and armed security.
* Dealing with stolen vehicles.
* Monitoring police activity.
* Accounting for drug sales.
* Even planning executions.
* Exclusive Access: โข Key leaders like “Doca” have limited access, with figures like “Pedroโข Bala” being among the few withโ direct contact.
3.Expansion & Increased Brutality:
* Expansionist โProject: โ The CV is actively expanding its influence,particularly in the โJacarepaguรก region of Rio de Janeiro,leading to increased violence andโ deaths.
* Parallel Justice: The groupโ operates its โฃown system of justice,โฃ characterized by executionsโ and torture.
* Wealth & Power: Brutality has led to significant wealth accumulation and increased power for the CV.
4.Evolving Revenue Streams:
* Beyond Cocaine: While drug trafficking remains a major source of income, the CV is diversifying into more profitable ventures:
* Irregular sale of fuel, gold, cigarettes, and alcohol.
* “Armed Territorial Control”: The CV โforces residents in controlled areas to use services and suppliers chosen by the group, essentially controlling the local economy.
* “Ultracapitalization”: This diversification has led toโฃ a significant increase in the CV’s financial power.
5. โImpact & โคConcerns:
* Infiltration of the State: โขThe CV’s financial power allows it to infiltrate government institutions.
* “Micro-Sovereignty”: The โgroup’s control over territory creates “enclaves ofโฃ micro-sovereignty,” effectively โฃoperatingโ as a mini-country with its own rules.
* Systemic Failure: The article points to a broken system where Rio de Janeiroโ arrests โmany criminals but releases them โฃdue to judicial corruption.
In โessence, theโข article paints a picture of โฃa highly organized, financially powerful, and deeply entrenched criminal organization that is challenging the authority ofโค the state in Rio de janeiro. It highlights the dangers of corruption, the sophisticationโค of โขmodern criminal networks, and the need for systemic reform to address the root causes of the problem.
