Rio de Janeiro state deputy targeted in operation over alleged ties to drug gang TCP

Brazilian state deputy Val Ceasa (PRD) and former Rio de Janeiro city councilman Ulisses Marins (União Brasil) are among the targets of an operation by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ) and the Civil Police, conducted on the morning of Thursday, June 18, 2026. Authorities are investigating alleged connections between the public officials and the criminal faction Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP), the second-largest drug trafficking organization in the state. A total of 14 search and seizure warrants are being executed, authorized by the Special Body of the Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro (TJ-RJ).

According to the MPRJ, the investigation began after evidence emerged that the suspects sought information from the Military Police about a secret operation to demolish properties allegedly used by the TCP in Parada de Lucas, within the Complexo de Israel area in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro. Among those properties was a luxury "resort" belonging to the gang's leader, Álvaro Malaquias Santa Rosa, known as "Peixão," which included swimming pools and a koi pond. Authorities say the suspects used their political influence to claim the buildings were intended for social services, a claim that prosecutors say was false. Their actions reportedly delayed the police operation to demolish the structures.

In addition to Ceasa and Marins, a former parliamentary advisor who now works at a state-owned energy company is also being investigated. Searches are being carried out at the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly (Alerj), at the Ceasa headquarters, and at addresses in Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo. At the home of Val Ceasa, authorities seized approximately R$ 300,000 in cash.

The operation is being conducted by the MPRJ's Security and Intelligence Coordination (CSI) and the Civil Police's Coordination for Investigation of Agents with Jurisdiction (Ciaf). The Alerj stated that it is cooperating fully with the authorities and that it supports transparency. The Rio de Janeiro city government said that Ulisses Marins is not currently on its staff, as his appointment attempted in November 2025 was later nullified by a city integrity review unit.

All three individuals named in the investigation have yet to publicly comment on the allegations.