World · Latin America · 3 hrs ago
Rio police arrest suspects in alleged sexual abuse and blackmail network
Rio de Janeiro state police are investigating a suspected network accused of sexually abusing teenagers and using recordings to control them.
Investigators say members recorded sexual assaults and threatened to share the videos if victims tried to leave.
Police describe the alleged scheme as sexual slavery, with suspects calling themselves “masters” and the teenagers “slaves.”
The case began in July, when the parents of a 16-year-old girl reported abuse to a police station in São Gonçalo.
Police had carried out eight of 10 arrest orders by the latest update, including the arrests of a parliamentary aide and a military police officer; both are suspects, and their identities were not given.
Searches of computers and phones led investigators to other people, and police say each suspect will be held responsible only for alleged crimes attributed to them.
Rio Civil Police arrested suspects on October 28 in an investigation into an alleged network that sexually abused and blackmailed teenagers.
The operation sought to execute 10 preventive arrest warrants and 18 search warrants in Niterói, São Gonçalo and Maricá.
By the latest update, eight arrest warrants had been carried out: seven people were detained that day, and one person already in prison received a new warrant.
Investigators say members recorded sexual assaults and used threats to share the recordings to keep victims in the group.
The case began in July, after the parents of a 16-year-old girl reported abuse to police.
- Who
- Rio Civil Police arrested suspects, including a parliamentary aide and a military police officer.
- What
- The arrests are part of an investigation into an alleged network accused of sexually abusing, torturing and blackmailing teenagers.
- When
- October 28, 2026. The case was reported to police in July.
- Where
- Niterói, São Gonçalo and Maricá, in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro.
- Why
- Investigators say recordings of sexual assaults and threats to release them were used to control victims and subject them to further abuse.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The parents of a 16-year-old girl went to the 74th Police Precinct to report abuse.
Police carried out the operation, seeking 10 preventive arrest warrants and 18 search warrants.
By the latest update, eight arrest warrants had been carried out.
- Arrest warrants sought
- 10 preventive warrants
- Search warrants sought
- 18
- Warrants carried out
- 8, including one against a person already in prison
- Operation locations
- Niterói, São Gonçalo and Maricá
- Case reported
- July, by the parents of a 16-year-old girl
What people are saying
The blackmail mechanism, associated with physical and psychological assaults, was used to keep the victims under control and subject them to further abuse