Agents from the Delegation for the Repression of Organized Criminal Actions and Special Investigations (Draco/IE) launched on Wednesday an operation to dismantle the so-called Equipe Astro, the armed wing of Comando Vermelho responsible for invasions and territorial expansion of the faction in areas of the Southwest Zone of Rio de Janeiro. The action executed 25 search and seizure warrants and three arrest warrants, mainly in the Gardênia Azul and Cidade de Deus communities. One person has already been arrested during the operation.
According to delegate Jefferson Ferreira, in an interview with Bom Dia Rio, this team is known for its violence. The operation is a follow-up to a previous investigation that had already identified Pierre Sá da Silva, known as PQD, killed in a confrontation during the first phase of the action, which occurred two weeks ago. The investigations revealed that he had specific training for criminal activities.
The investigation indicates that Equipe Astro operates in the expansion of Comando Vermelho in the Southwest Zone of Rio, a region that includes neighborhoods such as Gardênia Azul and Cidade de Deus. The police action aims to dismantle the group's structure and prevent new invasions and territorial occupations by the faction in the area.
