SUMMARY

Terceiro Comando Puro is a faction that split from the Terceiro Comando in 2002. The split came due to a disagreement within the Terceiro Comando regarding their alliance with another gans, Amigos dos Amigos. Nei da Conceição Cruz "Facão”, a drug boss controlling a complex of favelas in Rio de Janeiro called Complexo da Maré, initiated the split and challenged both Terceiro Comando and Amigos dos Amigos. Terceiro Comando Puro got stronger as the original Terceiro Comando was weakened due to Comando Vermelho attacks on their leadership in 2002. As Terceiro Comando was dissolving, and previous members joined the new faction, Facão’s organisation adopted the name Terceiro Comando Puro, “Pure Third Command”.

The Terceiro Comando Puro has been involved with drug trafficking like the other dominating gangs of Rio de Janeiro, Amigos dos Amigos and Comando Vermelho. Shootouts with the police are common, yet there is no political incompatibility and the violence is therefore not included in UCDP state-based conflict data.

The founding leader Facão was imprisoned in 2009 and was succeeded by Marcio Jose Sabino Pereira “Matemático”. Matemático was killed by police in 2012 and since then Fernando Gomes de Freitas “Fernandinho Guarabu” has been the main leader of the gang. In general these types of gangs often have a decentralised organisation with local drug bosses in each favela.

Terceiro Comando Puro has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.