Crime and Religion in Brazil: The Expansion of Rio’s Pure Third Command | InSight Crime

Crime and Religion in Brazil: The Expansion of Rio’s Pure Third Command

In a powerful illustration of how religion mixes with crime, Brazilian police scaled a water tank in a Rio de Janeiro favela and pulled down a flag bearing the Star of David that had been raised by one of the city’s most powerful crime gangs.

The flag, which was captured by authorities in January, was part of a bold territorial move by the criminal group Pure Third Command (Terceiro Comando Puro – TCP). The TCP, which blends Pentecostalism with illicit activities, had planted it to assert its control over the area after violent clashes with rival gangs.

The TCP maintains influence over the favela, known as Morro dos Macacos, which is a hotspot of intense criminal activity and frequent police operations. In 2024 alone, the area witnessed 80 shootings tied to criminal disputes, according to O Globo, and in early January, the favela was targeted for invasion by the Red Command (Comando Vermelho – CV), another of Rio’s major gangs, prompting the push for TCP’s visible symbolism.

The Red Command is deeply involved in retail drug sales and trafficking in Rio and in other Brazilian areas, and has been reasserting itself over other criminal organizations in the city. The attempted invasion of Morro dos Macacos is part of broader efforts from the gang to regain lost territory and secure its influence in Rio’s criminal markets after a decade of decline.

The article continues as follows:

• Religion: as an Organizing Force
• The Star of David Connection