The state Secretary of Prison Police (Seppen) launched another phase of Operation Illicitus on Thursday, which aims to repress the entry of illegal materials in the state of Rio de Janeiro's prisons. The operation specifically targets the fight against the flow of cell phones and drugs in the prisons.
The main targets are the bosses of Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP) arrested at Presídio Jonas Lopes de Carvalho, known as Bangu 4, located in the Gericinó Complex, in the West Zone of the state capital. In addition to the criminal faction's leaders, the operation also investigates visitors who arrive at the prison unit's gate and prison police officers who may facilitate illicit activities inside the penal establishments.
In Thursday's action, 23 cell phones and drugs were seized. Seppen also carried out an operation at Cadeia Pública Paulo Roberto Rocha, also part of the Gericinó Complex, where 64 phones were collected.
Since the beginning of August, Operation Illicitus has already taken 567 cell phones out of circulation from the prisons and approximately eight kilograms of drugs. The operation is part of the ongoing efforts by authorities to curb organized crime within the prison system of Rio de Janeiro.
