The Specialized Group for Public Security Action of the Public Ministry of the State of Rio de Janeiro (GAESP/MPRJ) filed a complaint against three civil police officers accused of integrating an armed criminal association that used the Civil Police structure to demand or request money from traders in the scrap, junkyard, recycling, and waste deposit sectors in São Gonçalo. The officers were arrested this Friday morning by teams from MPRJ and the Civil Police Internal Affairs department of Rio.
According to the complaint, the officers carried out raids against two companies, with initial demands of R$300 thousand and R$20 thousand. A fourth man, who was not a police officer, was also arrested during the operation. The internal affairs department also executed six search and seizure warrants as part of the investigations.
The scheme consisted of using the official structure of the Civil Police to coerce and extort traders in the recycling and waste deposit sector in the São Gonçalo region, a municipality in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro. The investigations revealed that the criminal association operated in an armed manner to intimidate the victims and ensure payment of the required amounts.
