Two Traffickers Found Dead in São Conrado; Residents Say Traffic Returning to Rocinha

Thiago Schimmer Cáceres, aka Leão or Pateta

Translation of article “Policia investiga se traficantes da Rocinha mataram ex-comparsas.” From O Globo, published February 16, 2012.

RIO – The Civil Police are investigating the deaths of Thiago Schimmer Cáceres, aka Leão or Pateta (“Lion” or “Goofy”), and Rodrigo Tavares de Paula, aka Rodrigo PQD. The bodies were discovered on Thursday, on Estrada das Canoas in São Conrado. Cáceres was killed by gunshots and stab wounds. According to police, he was known in Rocinha as the right-hand man of Antônio Francisco Bonfim Lopes, aka Nem, the ex-chief of drug traffic in the favela, who was arrested in November 2011. Two other missing men may have been killed by traffickers still operating in Rocinha. The community has been occupied by the Military Police for the past three months, and is slated to receive a Police Pacification Unit (UPP) in March.

The deaths occurred on Rua 2 [a main road in Rocinha], after an encounter with the trafficker Amaro Pereira da Silva, aka Neto (“Grandson”). He may have formed an alliance with Rodrigo Belo, aka Rodrigão, and betrayed his old cohorts. The police are still investigating the disappearance of Renato Araújo, aka Meio Quilo (“Half Kilo”), who may have been killed by traffickers as well. His family registered his disappearance at the police precinct in Gávea on February 9th. Meio Quilo’s motorcycle was found at a gas station near Rocinha. Delegate Fábio Barucke is investigating what appears to have been a coup d’etat in Rocinha’s drug traffic power structure. Residents allege that traffickers returned to the favela after BOPE withdrew following the initial invasion.

Rio’s Security Secretary, José Mariano Beltrame, stated that “any disturbances” in the favela could have been committed by traffickers attempting undermine the occupation.