Operation Alligator Nabs Alleged Leader of CV-Linked Kidnapping Ring in Rio

Overview

• Civil police from Rio de Janeiro and Bahia executed coordinated arrest and search warrants targeting suspects tied to Comando Vermelho.
• Specialized units including DEIC, Coorpin/Ilhéus, CORE and the Rio Anti-Kidnapping Division took part in the operation across multiple Rio addresses.
• Officers arrested a 61-year-old man in Rio described as the ringleader, who was already under court-ordered electronic monitoring.
• The group operated in southern Bahia around Ubaitaba, keeping victims in captivity and demanding cash ransoms, with the most recent reported case on September 23 involving a 55-year-old woman.
• Authorities say the arrest disrupted the organization’s structure and thwarted planned kidnappings, as the suspect remains in custody awaiting judicial proceedings while the investigation continues.