Tag Archives: Polícia Federal

Rocinha Community Leader Murdered

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Zoe| 2 Comments

Vanderlan Barros de Oliveira, aka Feijão, Rocinha community leader. Photo credit: Correio do Brasil

Rocinha, one of the largest favelas in Rio, was invaded without a shot fired in November 2011, in preparation for the installation of a Police Pacification Unit (UPP). The newly pacified community remained nearly incident-free until recently, despite having been a major drug trafficking stronghold. The deaths of two known traffickers in February and three in March suggest that the remaining traffickers are struggling for control of Rocinha. Yesterday a sixth drug-related murder occurred: Vanderlan Barros de Oliveira, aka Feijão (“Bean”),  the president of one of Rocinha’s residents’ associations, was shot and killed yesterday morning on one of the favela’s main streets.

Police surround Feijão's body after shooting in Rocinha. Photo credit: O Globo

According to O Globo and Correio do Brasil, the murder was likely related to the rivalry between drug trafficking factions in Rocinha. Feijão was under investigation by the Federal Police for involvement with a money laundering ring controlled by Nem, the former chief trafficker in Rocinha. He was also accused of belonging to the gang that controlled Rocinha before it was pacified, Amigos dos Amigos.

Translation of article “Rocinha Residents’ Association President Murdered” below the jump. From O Dia, published March 26, 2012.

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Posted in Crime, News, Rio de Janeiro, UPP

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UPP Coming to Rio’s North Zone in 2012; Police Corruption Detection Measures Underway

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Zoe| 1 Comment

View of Rio's North Zone

Security Secretary José Mariano Beltrame faced a series of situations in 2011 that shook public confidence in law enforcement: Numerous instances of police corruption came to light. Judge Patrícia Acioli was murdered at the order of a Military Police officer; this revelation led to the resignation  of the PM commander. The Military Police’s elite force, BOPE, has been accused of human rights violations. The past year will also be remembered for Beltrame’s successes, most notably the peaceful invasion of Rocinha. Five UPPs  were installed, two of them in the large favelas of São Carlos and Mangueira. Three of Rio’s most wanted drug traffickers, Polegar, Marcelinho Niterói, and Nem da Rocinha, were arrested or killed.

Security Secretary Beltrame

In the following interview, Beltrame discusses anti-corruption strategies, pacifying Rio’s North Zone, and gambling rings.

Translation of article “‘A Zone Norte é a bola da vez: Jacarezinho, Maré, e Manguinhos’, diz Beltrame.” Published by O Dia on December 24, 2011.

O Dia - How was 2011, secretary? It started poorly and ended well, with the occupation of Rocinha.

Beltrame - I am very skeptical of victories. I always believe that things are better than they were, but what comes next is what matters.

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Posted in Crime, Interview, José Mariano Beltrame, Rio de Janeiro, UPP

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Notes on the Invasion of Rocinha

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Zoe| 7 Comments
Rocinha, one of the largest favelas in Rio, was invaded early yesterday morning by BOPE, the Shock Battalion, the Military, Federal, and Civil Police, reinforced by armored personnel carriers and light tanks. The invasion, called “Operation Shock of Peace” was intended to clear the remaining rug traffickers out of the community in preparation for the installation of a UPP–the last and largest in Rio’s South Zone. Authorities and residents were apprehensive about the operation, given that Rocinha is a large favela with an entrenched criminal infrastructure; however, after Nem, Rocinha’s chief trafficker, was captured, a firefight seemed unlikely. The invasion made front page news in Rio, and the international media took note as well; the operation was covered by the New York Times, BBC, CNN, and many more.

BOPE truck in Rocinha

This week Rio Radar will publish an interview with a Rocinha resident about the prospect of pacification. RR editor Zoë Roller was in Rocinha on the day of the invasion and wrote the following observations.

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Posted in News, Rio de Janeiro, UPP

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Rio’s Most Wanted Trafficker, “Nem da Rocinha,” Arrested During Escape Attempt

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Zoe| 5 Comments

Rocinha has been in the news since last week’s announcement that BOPE would invade the favela in preparation for installing a Police Pacification Unit. One of the largest slums in Latin America, with an estimated population of 100,000 people, Rocinha was the last unpacified stronghold of drug traffic in Rio’s South Zone. For the past six years, Rocinha has been controlled by Antônio Francisco Bonfim Lopes, aka Nem, chief of the drug trafficking gang Amigos dos Amigos.

Rocinha

On Sunday it was reported that Nem checked into the public hospital in Rocinha after after mixing ecstasy and alcohol at his farewell party. The trafficker allegedly got on stage during the party and tearfully vowed to confront BOPE troops and resist the UPP.

Wanted poster showing widely circulated photo of Nem da Rocinha

Last night Nem was captured while attempting to escape Rocinha.

Translation of article “Traficante Nem, chefe do tráfico de drogas da Favela da Rocinha, é preso na Lagoa.” From O Globo, published November 10, 2011.

RIO – The trafficker Antônio Bonfim Lopes, aka Nem, chief of drug traffic in Rocinha, arrived today at the Gericinó Penitentiary Complex, in Rio’s West Zone. The trafficker Nem, along with other bandits arrested on Wednesday night in the Rocinha area, were taken to the prison in a police convoy on the city’s main expressways.

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Posted in Crime, José Mariano Beltrame, News, Rio de Janeiro, Sérgio Cabral, UPP

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