In a significant legal development, a Brazilian court has decided to maintain the detention of Adilson Oliveira Coutinho, known as Adilsinho, in a federal maximum-security facility in Brasília. The ruling, requested by the Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime (Gaeco) of the Rio de Janeiro State Public Ministry, confirms the high-risk status of the alleged criminal leader.
Adilsinho, who was arrested and transferred to the high-security prison in February following an operation in Cabo Frio, is described by authorities as a central figure in the upper echelon of Rio de Janeiro's illegal gambling world, specifically the "jogo do bicho." The court's decision underscores his alleged leadership role within a criminal organization accused of committing violent crimes to protect and expand its operations.
The investigation paints a picture of a multifaceted criminal enterprise. Beyond traditional illegal gambling points and slot machines (caça-níqueis) spread across bars and businesses in Rio's North Zone and Baixada Fluminense, the group is suspected of running a massive contraband cigarette operation. Authorities claim this illicit trade, often sourcing products from Paraguay, generated a monthly turnover of at least R$ 50 million for the organization.
The financial proceeds from these activities allegedly funded a life of luxury abroad, including the purchase of Ferraris and a private jet valued at R$ 4.5 million in the United States. More critically, investigators assert that a portion of the illicit funds was used to corrupt public officials and finance other criminal ventures, including operations in the state of Paraná.
The scope of the alleged crimes extends to extreme violence. The group is under investigation for its involvement in murders linked to territorial disputes over gambling turf. Among the cases being examined is the death of lawyer Rodrigo Marinho Crespo in February 2024, for which Adilsinho is considered a possible mastermind. Police reports describe a structured organization with defined roles and armed security protecting key assets.
Furthermore, the investigation has uncovered disturbing allegations of labor exploitation. Raids on clandestine cigarette factories, including one in Duque de Caxias in 2023, reportedly found workers, many of them Paraguayan nationals, living in conditions analogous to slavery, enduring exhausting hours and precarious hygiene and safety standards.
In response to the court's decision, Adilsinho's defense lawyer, Ricardo Braga, issued a statement claiming the arrest proceeded with "absolute tranquility," which he argued contradicts the narrative of his client's dangerousness. The defense maintains its confidence in the justice system and asserts Adilsinho's innocence regarding all charges.
Based on reporting from g1.