SUMMARY

Katiara was a drug trafficking gang from Bahia, in the northeast of Brazil. Originally known as “Primeiro Comando Recôncavo Facção Nazaré Katiara” or “Primeiro Comando Recôncavo”, when the gang was formed by Adílson Souza Lima “Roceirinho”. After a long experience in drug dealing while growing up in the city of Nazaré, Adílson moved to Salvador where he got arrested in the Penitentiary Lemos de Brito. In prison, he started the group along with other prisoners, at some point during the first decade of the 2000's. In 2013, the faction officially changed its name to Katiara.

Katiara was allied with local groups across the country, such as Tropa do Ajeita (Bahia) and Amigos dos Amigos (Rio de Janeiro), but also had connections to Brazil’s biggest criminal organizations PCC and Comando Vermelho. Even though these alliances between rivaling groups seemed to be controversial, Katiara strategically kept a neutral position.

The group was mainly active in the city of Salvador, with its stronghold in the Valéria neighborhood. In addition, Katiara was active in another cities of Bahia such as Santo Antônio de Jesus, Maragogipe, Salinas da Margarida, Vera Cruz and Santo Amaro.

Adeílson maintained his leadership position, however after being imprisoned a second time in 2012, he installed local leaders in the communities where the organization holds power. This measure caused internal conflicts between these leaders. In 2021, police discovered that one of these leaders had changed sides to their rival Bonde do Maluco, betraying the group.

Katiara has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP, working as a formally organized actor.