This Wednesday (10), the Civil and Military police carried out a joint operation to execute 56 arrest warrants and 42 search and seizure warrants in Complexo da Maré, a group of favelas in the north of Rio. The action is aimed at criminal activities of the Third Command Puro (TCP) faction. According to the Civil Police, crimes against cargo theft, cell phone theft, child pornography and the promotion of clandestine funk dances, among others, were investigated. Related news: RJ: Operation in Maré seizes a record 48 tons of drugs. Maré receives sewage works, but drainage and garbage remain a challenge. Operation in SP investigates PCC infiltration of the police and MP. Shots were exchanged, so schools and health centers had to be closed. According to Maré de Notícias, a community newspaper in the region, residents reported the circulation of armored vehicles, known as caveirão, and low flights by security forces helicopters. Operation Trinus, as it was named, is the result of several months of investigations conducted by the 21st Police Station (DP). The action involves agents from elite police forces, such as the Civil Special Resources Coordination (Core); and the Military Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE). The Civil Police defines the TCP’s action as “a complex structure that explored six fronts of criminal modalities to finance, strengthen and expand the faction’s territorial dominance in communities in the region”. Cargo and cell phone theft One of the fronts of action is the theft of cargo on expressways neighboring Complexo da Maré: Red, Yellow and Avenida Brasil lines. The investigation showed that TCP exercises economic control over essential services within communities, monopolizing activities such as gas sales, water supply and internet access. The 21st DP also identified an organization structured to steal and receive cell phone devices. The criminals operating on this front had weapons, motorcycles and objective fundraising goals, requiring a certain number of devices to be unlocked for theft. The Military Police reported, on social media, that they found a clandestine drug store. At the scene, supplies and equipment for drug cultivation were seized. Bope police officers removed 128 marijuana plants from the space, located in the Vila do João community. Disney Ball The Police identified that the so-called Disney Ball also used to take place in Vila do João. The event is considered an economic platform for crime. In the police description, “the event, which became a popular reference for its themed production with decoration, pyrotechnics, circus attractions and children's characters, was identified by investigators as a platform for the broad monetization of organized crime”. The ball functioned as an “immediate outlet for stolen goods”. Bandits armed with rifles moved freely among the people. “In one of the records, it was estimated that there were around 40 weapons present during an armed procession,” the investigation points out. Child pornography Police officers also identified child pornography activities. The investigation began following complaints that demonstrated the participation of those investigated in digital groups aimed at disseminating and exchanging child sexual abuse material, “including videos with children and babies in situations of explicit sexual abuse”. Schools and health centers Due to the operation, 42 municipal schools had their operations impacted, according to the Municipal Department of Education. In the state network, two units were closed. In the health area, three primary care units suspended the start of operations, according to the secretariat. There was no record of street closures or bus traffic being interrupted around Maré. Set of favelas Complexo da Maré is made up of 16 communities, home to around 140,000 people. TCP acts on some of them. The others suffer from the presence of rival factions, such as Comando Vermelho (CV), the largest in the state, and militias. According to Maré de Notícias, this Wednesday's operation takes place in eight communities: Conjunto Esperança, Salsa e Merengue, Vila dos Pinheiros, Vila do João, Bento Ribeiro Dantas, Nova Maré, Baixa do Sapateiro and Morro do Timbau. Redes da Maré, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that operates in the favelas, provides WhatsApp (21) 999246462 for residents who need some type of support during the operation.