Stunned police discovered and later dismantled an illegal hatchery where a gang allegedly bred caimans to intimidate rivals.
Officers uncovered the bizarre set-up during an anti-drug trafficking operation on Tuesday (16 Jun).
Footage shows officers standing beside a forlorn-looking tank filled with murky, rubbish-strewn water.
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One officer could be seen using a long pole to pin a reptile against the side of the tank.
The tank was located on the grounds of a residential property under construction in Belford Roxo, Brazil.
Two caimans were later removed from the site by firefighters, as reported by Need To Know.
Police suspect the animals were being used by drug traffickers to intimidate their enemies.
The rescued reptiles were found to be in good health, with no injuries.
They were placed in transport cages and returned to their natural habitat in the Sarapuí River, where the species is already present.
Six men were arrested during Tuesday’s operation, including local drug-trafficking leader Patrick Melo, who was detained at his home.
During the raid, he allegedly tried to hide and destroy his phone, but officers managed to seize the device, which remained functional.
Patrick is the son of Vanderlan “Chocolate” Ramos da Silva, a leader of the Terceiro Comando Puro gang, who is currently imprisoned in Porto Velho.
The Rio de Janeiro State Civil Police’s Drug Enforcement Division says there is an ongoing conflict involving armed violence over control of communities and drug sales points in the area.
Three cars and 22 motorbikes were also seized in the operation.
Investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible for keeping the caimans at the property and to determine how the animals were being used.
