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Rio Police Say Mega-Operation Seized 93 Rifles as Cache Moves to Forensic Review

Investigators now focus on tracing supply routes and local assembly behind the cache.

Overview

  • An updated police count reports 93 rifles, 26 pistols, one revolver, explosives, ammunition and drugs seized, valued at about R$12.8 million.
  • The arsenal includes AR-15, AR-10, AK-47, FAL, G3, Benelli MR1 and Mauser models, with officials saying nearly 90% of AR-platform rifles are copy fakes.
  • Authorities say some weapons are ghost guns assembled in Brazil, and others match types used by armed forces in Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina and Peru.
  • The material has been transferred to specialized units and the CFAE for forensic analysis and database entry, with serviceable pieces potentially reassigned to police and the rest slated for destruction within up to three years.
  • Officials identify the Penha and Alemão complexes as distribution hubs for drugs and dozens of rifles each month, emphasizing the need to dismantle trafficking and assembly networks for lasting impact.