'Rio witnessed a fatal shooting involving 'Diaba Loira' amidst factional conflict'
In the ongoing territorial conflicts between Rio de Janeiro's notorious criminal factions, the latest incident has claimed a significant life. Eweline Passos Rodrigues, also known as "Diaba Loira", was shot dead in a shootout between the Comando Vermelho (CV) and Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP) on Friday, 15th August.
Eweline, a native of Santa Catarina, had been on the run since 2023 after exchanging fire with the Military Police during an operation in Gardênia Azul. Her notoriety grew on social media for her armed demeanor, and she was a well-known figure tied to the factional conflicts in Rio.
The Comando Vermelho, originating in the 1970s, was the first large-scale contemporary criminal faction in Brazil, primarily operating in Rio de Janeiro. The Terceiro Comando, which emerged in the 1980s, was a faction that allied with others like Amigos dos Amigos. After a major purge in 2002, the original Terceiro Comando was nearly eradicated, and out of its remnants emerged the Terceiro Comando Puro, characterized by strict territorial control and Christian-oriented rules.
Peixão (Álvaro Malaquias Santa Rosa) is a leading figure in the TCP, commanding areas collectively called the “Complexo de Israel,” which includes several neighborhoods in the northern zone of Rio de Janeiro. The TCP controls certain neighborhoods such as Parada de Lucas, Vigário Geral, Cidade Alta, Cinco Bocas, and Pica-Pau.
The shootout involving Eweline occurred in an area that has been experiencing intense territorial disputes between the two factions. Eweline had recently defected from the CV to the TCP, exacerbating tensions between the two groups. The killing follows a shootout attributed to territorial disputes between the CV and TCP, highlighting the dangerous rivalry and instability provoked by such defections.
Eweline's online activities, which often showcased the daily life of a faction member, may have made her a target. Images of her body are circulating on social media. This incident underscores the fierce competition in Rio’s favelas, where allegiance shifts by influential criminals like Diaba Loira intensify the longstanding rivalry and violence between the Comando Vermelho and Terceiro Comando Puro.
| Aspect | Comando Vermelho (CV) | Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP) | |------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | Origin | 1970s, first major Rio faction | Remnant faction from original 1980s Terceiro Comando| | Leadership | Fernandinho Beira-Mar (historically) | Peixão (Álvaro Malaquias Santa Rosa) | | Territory | Morro do Quitungo, Brás de Pina | Cordovil, Cidade Alta, Complexo de Israel areas | | Ideology/Practice | Traditional faction structure | Strict control including Christian-oriented rules | | Notable recent figure | Eweline “Diaba Loira” (former member) | Eweline defected to TCP, increasing conflict | | Recent conflicts | Territorial disputes with TCP | Engaged in violent clashes with CV | | Criminal enterprises | Drug trafficking, illegal internet control | Drug trafficking, illegal internet control |
This dynamic underscores the ongoing dangerous rivalry and instability in Rio’s favelas, where allegiance shifts by influential criminals like Diaba Loira can intensify longstanding rivalry and violence between the Comando Vermelho and Terceiro Comando Puro.
Politics in Rio de Janeiro's favelas remains entangled with general-news stories of crime and justice, as the deadly shootout between the Comando Vermelho and Terceiro Comando Puro on August 15th showcases. The killing of Eweline Passos Rodrigues, a former member of the Comando Vermelho who had recently defected to the Terceiro Comando Puro, highlights the intense competition and ongoing instability caused by such defections in these communities.
