A massive police operation in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro has resulted in the deaths of at least 132 people, marking the largest and deadliest gang raid in the city’s history. The operation, which involved thousands of officers and saw fierce exchanges of gunfire and explosives, has drawn international condemnation just days before Brazil is set to host a major global climate conference.
The raid, dubbed “Operation Containment,” was launched in the early hours of Tuesday, October 28th. A force of 2,500 Brazilian civil and military police, supported by helicopters, armored vehicles, and drones, moved into the Alcmao and Penha complexes.
According to the government of Rio de Janeiro, the year-in-the-making operation aimed to combat the territorial expansion of the Comando Vermelho (Red Command), one of Brazil’s largest and oldest criminal groups. The Red Command is notoriously involved in the drug trade across Brazil and South America and maintains a strong foothold in Rio’s poorer neighborhoods, known as favelas.
Police used armored vehicles to break through barricades erected by the gang and established their own blockades to seal off strategic avenues and highways. Intense shootouts soon erupted throughout the complexes.
The state of Rio announced that following the raid, over 80 alleged criminals were apprehended, and authorities seized over 400 pounds of drugs and dozens of firearms. However, the human cost was staggering. Of the 132 confirmed dead, four were police officers. Dozens more were injured, including civilians.
Videos from the scene depicted a war zone, with explosions and rising black smoke scattering across the city skyline. In a statement, the government of Rio said the Red Command responded to the raid by using drones to drop explosives on police.
In the aftermath, a witness told Reuters that over 40 bodies could be seen lining the streets of the Penha favela on Wednesday.
The United Nations Human Rights Office issued a statement on the assault, saying, “We are horrified by the ongoing police operation in favelas in Rio de Janeiro. We remind authorities of their obligations under international human rights law and urge prompt and effective investigations.”
The deadly operation comes as the state of Rio prepares to host the COP30 World Leader Summit, a major climate conference, next week. The Brazilian government has a history of conducting large-scale security operations ahead of hosting major world events, having deployed over 2,000 troops for “pacification efforts” in the favelas ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
