The State Secretariat of Prison Police (Seppen) launched on Thursday (3) a new phase of Operation Illicitus, which combats the entry of cell phones and drugs in Rio de Janeiro prisons. The operation's main focus is the Gericinó Penitentiary Complex, in Bangu, in the city's West Zone, where intensive searches have been conducted since August.
The specific target of this phase is the Jonas Lopes de Carvalho Prison (Bangu 4), a unit that houses chiefs and members of the Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP), a criminal organization rivaling the Comando Vermelho. Agents thoroughly searched the cells while inmates remained in the yard, as reported by Globocop at 7:40 AM. Inspections were also carried out at the Central Gate of the unit.
Since the beginning of August, Operation Illicitus has removed from circulation 567 cell phones and approximately eight kilograms of drugs from Rio de Janeiro prisons. Among the seizures, 64 cell phones were confiscated on Monday (31) at the Paulo Roberto Rocha Public Jail (Bangu C), a unit that detains members of the Comando Vermelho.
During the same period, 11 visitors were arrested for involvement with smuggling illicit items into the penitentiaries. The operation continues in progress with the goal of intensifying control and security in the state's prisons.
