English translation of article: “Relembre casos de outros políticos envolvidos com milícias.” From O Globo, published April 13, 2011.
Remembering the Cases of Other Politicians Involved with Militias
Rio – City Alderman Luiz André Ferreira da Silva (PR/RJ), known as Deco, is not the first politician to be arrested for involvement in militias in Rio de Janeiro. Many paramilitary groups have the cooperation of aldermen and congressmen. In June of 2008, the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiries for Militias of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) was created; it indicated 226 people for involvement with criminal gangs.
Remembering other cases:
In December of 2010, Operation Black Cloak of the Military, Civil, and Federal Police, with the help of the Army and Navy, took down the largest and oldest militia from Duque de Caxias [North Zone]. Retired officer of the Military Police and Alderman Jonas Gonçalves da Silva, known as “Jonas é Nós (We are Jonas),” and Alderman Sebastião Ferreira da Silva, aka “Chiquinho Grandão,” were arrested for allegedly organizing a militia that controlled eight neighborhoods in the municipality. The criminal activities of the militia included arms sales to drug dealers in Complexo de Alemão, the sale of illegal cable TV and internet signals, black market petroleum products and gas cylinders, operating slot machines, and alternative transportation (such as unregistered motorcycle taxis and van shuttles). During the investigations of the aldermen, the police also discovered a scheme to evade electoral controls and help the campaign of Congressman Jorge Moreira Theodoro, aka Dica, re-elected last October. Jonas and Chiquinho were on the CPI for Militias’ list of accused, but Chiquinho’s name was withdrawn from the list at the last second, after a general vote at the request of Congressman Dica.