A former elite cop has been arrested on suspicion of training drug traffickers for combat.
Ronny Pessanha de Oliveira is also a wannabe influencer.
He was arrested in a slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday (24 Mar).
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He is accused of training members of the feared Comando Vermelho (CV) – one of Brazil’s most powerful gangs – for combat.
Pessanha served in the Military Police – Brazil’s main preventive force – until his expulsion in September 2023.
He once served in the force’s elite BOPE tactical unit – formed for urban warfare in Rio’s dangerous favelas.
Police chief Jefferson Ferreira told local media: “He took advantage of the tactical skills he had learned and passed them on to drug traffickers.
“Techniques used not only in battles against rival gangs but also in confrontations with the police.”
Pessanha was active on social media, where he flaunted his life of luxury to his 10,000-plus followers including him posing by an infinity pool.
And he was once seen in a video behind the wheel of a six-figure McLaren, as reported by Need To Know.
Pessanha is also accused of using a private security firm and a real estate business to launder money from his illegal dealings.
The police say he was part of a militia in the Muzema slum but switched sides once the CV took control of the area.
He began training their members in exchange for permission to control real estate ventures in the area.
The police say he used heavy weaponry to evict locals and seize their properties for himself.
In other cases, he left residents alone, but only in exchange for protection money.
It is not the first time Pessanha has been arrested.
He was previously seized in March 2024 after being caught carrying a revolver in a Mercedes-Benz.
However, he was released after posting bail.
Police chief Felipe Curi told local media: “There are even suspicions that he may have killed or been involved in the deaths of two people responsible for managing some condominiums in Muzema.”
A court has frozen 3m BRL (£401,000) from Pessanha’s companies.
It has also blocked 2m BRL (£268,000) moved by his mother, Elaine da Silva Pessanha, who is listed as his business partner.
Luxury cars registered under both their names are being targeted in search and seizure operations.
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