Criminal faction in Bahia is target of interstate operation
A criminal faction in Bahia is the target of an interstate operation this Tuesday morning (16). According to the police, this is one of the largest operations against organized crime in recent years in the state.
"Operation Gênesis", launched by the DHPP (Department of Homicide and Personal Protection) of the Civil Police of Bahia, seeks to combat the "Tropa do Cote", also known as the "Tropa do CF".
The police point out that the group is responsible for at least 15 homicides recorded between 2025 and 2026. The criminal organization is being investigated for drug trafficking, armed territorial control and various violent crimes in the state of Bahia.
Preventive arrest and search and seizure warrants are carried out in the neighborhoods of Águas Claras, Sussuarana and Nova Sussuarana, in the capital of Bahia, in addition to the municipalities of Lauro de Freitas and Retirolândia. The operation also reaches the Rio de Janeiro cities of Nova Iguaçu and Macaé, and Santa Catarina, in the municipalities of Camboriú and Itapema.
The targets are leaders, financial managers and executors of the faction who maintained connections and support structures in different regions of the country, which even consolidated a parallel system of control in communities in Salvador.
According to the investigation, the "Tropa do Cote" used large-caliber weapons to intimidate residents, hinder the actions of security forces and promote attacks against rival groups, in addition to being involved in murders related to the dispute over territories.
This Tuesday's action is an offshoot of "Operation Saigon", launched in September 2023 against the same criminal group. Even after previous actions affected prominent members of the organization, investigations revealed that the faction underwent an internal restructuring process.
According to the police, the main leader continued to exert influence over the group, while one of his trusted men took over the operational coordination of criminal activities. The investigations also identified a network of operators and fugitives distributed across different states, responsible for maintaining the organization's functioning and ensuring the continuity of illicit actions.
The current phase incorporates evidentiary elements shared in court, in addition to new evidence produced over approximately two years of investigations conducted by the Civil Police of Bahia.
With more than 300 police officers, the action has the support of the Departments of Repression and Combating Corruption, Organized Crime and Money Laundering (DRACO), Metropolitan Police (DEPOM), Police Intelligence (DIP), Interior Police (DEPIN), Specialized Criminal Investigations (DEIC), Investigation and Repression of Drug Trafficking (DENARC) and Protection of Women, Citizenship and People Vulnerable Persons (DPMCV), in addition to the Interstate Police Coordination (POLINTER) and the Special Operations and Resources Coordination (CORE).
The operation also has the support of the Public Security Secretariat of Bahia (SSP/BA), through the Intelligence Superintendence (SI), in addition to the Civil Police of the states of Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. More information will be released after the results of the operation are consolidated.
Source: CNN