The arrest of drug trafficker Ricardo Chaves de Castro Lima, known as Fu da Mineira, was upheld by the Supreme Federal Court (STF). In a decision published this Thursday (29), Minister Flávio Dino denied the habeas corpus request presented by the trafficker's defense, identified by investigations as a member of the high command of Comando Vermelho (CV) and involved in an interstate scheme of robbery, receiving and cloning of vehicles.
With this decision, the preventive detention order issued by the Rio de Janeiro court and previously confirmed by the State Court of Justice (TJRJ) and the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) remains valid.
Investigation points to involvement at the top of the Comando Vermelho (Red Command).
According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, Ricardo Chaves is part of a structured criminal organization involved in vehicle theft and the receiving of stolen vehicles. Investigations indicate the participation of approximately 20 defendants in a scheme that operated in Rio de Janeiro and other states.
According to the prosecution, Fu da Mineira was part of the so-called "Council" or "Commission" of Comando Vermelho, a group considered responsible for defining strategies, supervising criminal activities, and transmitting orders to other members of the faction.
Among those under investigation are also well-known names from organized crime, such as Luiz Fernando da Costa, aka Fernandinho Beira-Mar, Márcio Santos Nepomuceno, aka Marcinho VP, Ocimar Nunes Robert, aka Barbozinha, and Paulo César Batista de Castro, aka Paulinhozinho.
Operation targeted vehicle theft and cloning scheme.
In October 2025, Fu da Mineira was among the targets of an operation by the Rio Civil Police to execute 20 preventive arrest warrants. The operation was conducted by agents from the 53rd DP (Mesquita) and the 18th DP (Praça da Bandeira).
According to investigations, stolen vehicles were taken to communities controlled by Comando Vermelho, where they underwent alterations and cloning. Afterwards, the cars were resold or used in other criminal activities.
Police maintain that the scheme had the authorization and knowledge of the faction's main leaders.
The defense argued that the accused could not orchestrate crimes from prison.
In the habeas corpus petition, the defense argued that there was insufficient evidence to justify maintaining the pretrial detention.
The lawyers stated that Ricardo Chaves is being held in a maximum-security federal prison, where communications are monitored and recorded by court order, which would make the accusation that he continued to command criminal activities from inside the prison incompatible.
The defense also alleged excessive delays in the processing of the case and requested, alternatively, that imprisonment be replaced by less restrictive precautionary measures.
Supreme Court sees risk to public order.
Upon reviewing the case, Minister Flávio Dino concluded that the decisions of the lower courts presented concrete grounds to justify maintaining the detention.
The decision highlights the existence of elements obtained during the investigation, such as police reports, cooperation from members of the organization, tracking of stolen vehicles, monitoring of victims' cell phones, and seizures of cloned vehicles.
According to the Supreme Federal Court (STF), there is evidence that the accused played a significant role within the criminal organization, a circumstance that would justify the arrest to prevent the continuation of criminal activities.
According to the ruling, the alleged leadership position demonstrates a high risk of repeated criminal activity and potential influence over other members of the organization.
Federal prison did not rule out suspicions, says ruling.
One of the main points debated in the process was the defense's claim that isolation in a federal prison would prevent any criminal activity on the part of the accused.
However, the minister noted that this discussion requires in-depth analysis of the evidence gathered in the investigation, which cannot be done in habeas corpus proceedings.
The understanding followed the position already adopted by the TJRJ (Rio de Janeiro State Court of Justice) and the STJ (Superior Court of Justice), which considered that there was sufficient evidence to indicate that leaders of the faction would continue to exert influence over the criminal organization.
The Supreme Court also dismissed the argument of excessive delay. According to Flávio Dino, the process involves a large number of individuals under investigation, various facts under inquiry, and a criminal structure considered complex, factors that justify a longer processing time.
The minister also noted that procedural acts have been carried out regularly, with no evidence of unjustified delay on the part of the Judiciary.
History of Fu from Minas Gerais
Ricardo Chaves de Castro Lima was arrested in August 2015 during an operation by the Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE) in the Chapadão Complex, in the North Zone of Rio.
At the time, he was considered one of the most wanted criminals in the state, and a reward of R$ 10 was offered for his capture.
According to information released at the time by the authorities, Fu was serving a sentence in a prison unit in Rondônia and did not return after receiving authorization for temporary release in 2013, becoming a fugitive.
Investigations indicated that he had settled in the Chapadão Complex after the implementation of a Pacifying Police Unit (UPP) in the Alemão Complex.
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