Federal Operation Targets Comando Vermelho's Internet Monopoly in Rio

Overview

• Operation Backbone disrupted a network of about 42 companies and led to at least 20 arrests as investigators move to dismantle an illegal system of ISPs and front firms used by the Comando Vermelho.
• The Supreme Court authorized a freeze of R$558 million and the suspension of dozens of firms after police built accounting evidence that internet charges were a major revenue source for the gang.
• Federal Police say traffickers coerced residents by cutting competitor cables, burning distribution boxes and blocking repairs so only trafficker-approved providers could operate.
• Authorities seized luxury goods, cash and vehicles and plan to ask Anatel to revoke or interdict licenses for implicated providers while trying to ensure service continuity for affected communities.
• The case exposes alleged links between imprisoned leaders, their relatives and local politicians and raises broader questions about how small, informal ISPs and weak oversight let organized crime monetize public telecom infrastructure.