The actions of the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) in Paraisópolis, in the southern zone of São Paulo, have begun to attract attention following reports of an expansion of territorial control in the community, considered the largest favela in the São Paulo capital. According to a report published this weekend, the faction has adopted strategies historically associated with Comando Vermelho (CV), from Rio de Janeiro, consolidating a more rigid model of control over residents, merchants, and internal circulation.
Among the reported practices are physical roadblocks on public roads, charging fees to merchants, monitoring the activities of social organizations, and influencing community leaders. Residents interviewed also reported restrictions on movement, requirements for identification to enter certain areas, and increased informal surveillance.
The change would represent a new stage in the actions of the São Paulo-based faction, traditionally known for operating in a less overt manner in territorial control when compared to criminal groups in Rio de Janeiro. Experts believe that the use of barriers and access control brings the PCC closer to a logic of territorial occupation similar to that applied by the CV in Rio de Janeiro communities.
Model inspired by the CV marks a new phase for organized crime.
According to the report, the PCC has been consolidating a more visible control system in Paraisópolis over the past two years. Metal barriers, removable fences, and concrete structures have been installed at strategic points in the community to monitor entry and exit.
Residents say that unknown individuals cannot move around freely without identification, both during the day and at night.
In addition to physical limitations, the faction is also believed to have expanded its influence over local services and organizations. There are reports of them charging fees, monitoring community activities, and pressuring social representatives to participate in actions of interest to the criminal group.
The advance comes amid expectations of large public investments planned for the region, estimated at R$ 1,6 billion, including urban mobility projects and expansion of local infrastructure. For investigators and members of the Public Prosecutor's Office, the faction's strategic interest is linked to the economic development and political-social control of the area.
Police react and remove barricades after public outcry.
Less than 24 hours after the complaints were made public, the Military Police carried out an operation this Sunday (3) to remove barricades and obstacles installed on roads in Paraisópolis. Around 60 police officers participated in the action, with the support of drones and 15 vehicles.
Images released by Governor Tarcísio de Freitas show agents using sledgehammers and chainsaws to cut metal bars and remove concrete structures. In some places, there were inscriptions related to the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital, a Brazilian criminal organization) on the removed barricades.
Commenting on the operation, Tarcísio stated that there will be no areas in São Paulo where the State is prevented from acting. According to him, the fight against organized crime will continue permanently and with reinforced intelligence operations.
The Public Security Secretariat reported that the removal of the structures is part of a plan to intensify policing in the region and that further actions are expected throughout the week.
Government disputes thesis of expanded territorial domain.
Following the widespread coverage of the report, the São Paulo state government disputed the interpretation that the faction has expanded its territorial control in Paraisópolis. In a statement, the Public Security Secretariat asserted that the described scenario is not supported by verifiable data or official records.
According to the department, police operations, warrant executions, and patrols continue to occur regularly in the community, without hindrance to security forces. The government also highlighted drug and weapons seizures and arrests made in the region in recent months as a demonstration of the State's continued presence.
Representatives of the residents' association have denied any connection with the PCC and stated that the activities carried out in the community are exclusively focused on providing social services to the population.
Paraisópolis becomes a symbol of the PCC's new dynamic.
The consolidation of Paraisópolis as the main operational center of the PCC in São Paulo reignites the debate about the evolution of criminal factions in the country. Investigators point out that the combination of drug trafficking, territorial control, economic influence, and social interference may represent a structural transformation in organized crime in São Paulo.
According to experts, the adoption of practices inspired by Comando Vermelho indicates that the PCC seeks to expand its capacity for informal governance over densely populated urban territories, increasing the complexity of police and institutional confrontations.
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