Drug trafficking chief from Muquiço arrested: who is Bruno Loureiro, the "Colonel"
Two civil police officers were shot in Muquiço, in Guadalupe, an area controlled by TCP. The faction's chief in the community, Bruno da Silva Loureiro, was arrested last month.
Gunfire on Avenida Brasil exposes profile of Muquiço trafficking leader
The intense gunfight that closed Avenida Brasil and left two civil police officers wounded on the morning of Wednesday occurred in the Muquiço community in Guadalupe, according to oglobo.globo.com. The area is controlled by the Pure Third Command (TCP) and has as its main criminal leadership Bruno da Silva Loureiro, 43 years old, known as Colonel of Muquiço.
Bruno was arrested last month at Ronaldo Gazolla Municipal Hospital in Acari, where he was admitted to treat an infection. According to the Military Police, he was about to undergo a surgical procedure when he was detained. Teams from the 41st BPM (Irajá) carried out a cordon around the health unit to ensure the safety of the operation.
Chief of trafficking in the community located between Guadalupe and Deodoro, he is accused of ordering executions and controlling TCP territories. He appears in investigations into crimes marked by extreme violence, including the murder of a 22-year-old woman.
Young woman killed after refusing trafficker at funk dance
Among the crimes attributed to Bruno Loureiro is the death of Sther Barroso dos Santos, 22 years old, murdered in August of last year after refusing to leave with a trafficker during a funk dance in Senador Camará.
According to relatives and Civil Police investigation, Sther was participating in the party when she was approached by a criminal linked to trafficking. After refusing, she was reportedly removed from the location, beaten and tortured. Hours later, her body was abandoned at the door of the house where she lived, in Vila Aliança. She was taken to Albert Schweitzer Municipal Hospital in Realengo, but was already dead.
The crime provoked strong public reaction. The family stated that Sther had no involvement with criminal activities and was living a moment of personal achievements: she was obtaining her driving licence, planned to move to a new apartment and dreamed of starting a family. Her sister reported on social media that she had helped Sther get ready for the dance just hours before the murder and that the family received the body disfigured by the assaults. The Civil Police are investigating whether Bruno Loureiro was the mastermind behind the crime.
Execution and tracking of former TCP member
The trafficker is also pointed to as responsible for ordering the execution of Vitor Lima da Cunha, killed in June 2022 after leaving TCP and migrating to the rival faction Red Command. According to the investigation, a woman was used to lure the victim out of the Penha Complex and lead him to Recreio dos Bandeirantes, where the homicide was committed.
This inquiry led investigators to identify the participation of Michael Johnny Vianna de Azevedo, former adviser to state deputy Val Ceasa (PRD). According to the Civil Police, Michael would have made a bank transfer related to the payment promised for the execution. He was charged with kidnapping and illegal imprisonment, qualified homicide and concealment of a corpse.
State deputy at the centre of investigations
The name of Bruno returned to the centre of attention last Thursday, when an operation by the Rio de Janeiro Public Ministry (MPRJ) — investigating links between public agents and TCP — had as one of its targets state deputy Val Ceasa. During the investigation, prosecutors identified links between members and former members of the parliamentarian's office and members of the criminal faction.
Michael Johnny worked as an adviser to Val Ceasa between February 2024 and January 2025. After leaving the office, he was appointed to a position at Rioluz. Arrested in flagrante during the MPRJ operation for illegal firearms possession, he was subsequently dismissed by the Rio de Janeiro City Council.
Extensive criminal record and reinforced policing
Pointed to as one of the most wanted criminals in the state, Bruno da Silva Loureiro accumulates records for homicide, drug trafficking, robbery, bodily injury, receiving stolen goods, illegal firearms possession and criminal association, according to security forces. The incident was recorded at the 39th Police District (Pavuna), and policing remained reinforced around Ronaldo Gazolla Hospital following his capture.
Source: Google News BR — Crime