Buses are used as a barricade in Irajá after PM announces occupation in Complexo da Serrinha

Three buses were hijacked and used as barricades in the early afternoon of this Friday (30) in Irajá, in the North Zone of Rio. At least one passenger car and another from Light were also used to block the road.

One of the buses was crossed on Avenida Monsenhor Félix, near the subway station, and the other on Avenida Martin Luther King Jr. The third, from the company Flores, was used to close the lane in Colégio.

According to Rio Ônibus, the bus lines that pass through these roads began to suffer impacts at around 12:30 pm.

The criminal action would be in reprisal for the Military Police occupation of Complexo da Serrinha, in Madureira, a group of communities that is controlled by the same faction that dominates communities in Irajá.

The occupation was announced after criminals set fire to a bus and kidnapped others and used them as barricades to disperse an operation this Thursday (29).

According to the PM, the occupation will be for an indefinite period.

The action of the 9th BPM (Rocha Miranda) aimed to combat drug trafficking and locate stolen vehicles. During the operation, devices were launched by drones at police officers.

Three people were arrested. According to the PM, one of them had more than 20 criminal records.

On Thursday (29), Avenida Ministro Edgard Romero, one of the main roads in the North Zone of Rio, was closed during the operation in the Primavera community, in Complexo da Serrinha.

Avenida Monsenhor Félix, in Irajá, was also closed in both directions, close to Avenida Pastor Martin Luther King Júnior.

Some people recognized their cars among the vehicles filmed in the community. A driver said he saw his own car being placed on a trailer during a report and contacted the police to find out how to recover it.

"I saw my car on television. It was getting on a trailer and I went to the police [to find out] the procedures to get my car back. My payment is due now, on Monday. I didn't even make half the money. And they, with my cell phone, still took the other part I had", he stated.

Another driver said he still hopes to recover the car, which had no insurance or tracker.

"I'm hoping to recover my property. I've had it on the street for five months. It wasn't insured, it doesn't have a tracker. I'm running after it," he said.

During the operation, military police also found a bunker beneath a pet shop.