At least 64 people have been killed in what authorities describe as the largest and deadliest police operation in Rio de Janeiro’s history. The massive raid, dubbed Operation Containment, targeted the Red Command (Comando Vermelho) gang in the Alemão and Penha districts areas long plagued by organised crime and drug trafficking.
According to Rio’s state governor, Cláudio Castro, four of the dead were police officers. More than 80 suspects were arrested, while dozens of civilians were injured in the crossfire. The United Nations Human Rights Office said it was “horrified” by the scale of the violence, urging Brazil to carry out “prompt and effective investigations” into the killings.
The operation began early Tuesday, with around 2,500 security personnel deployed across the northern suburbs. Authorities said the Red Command responded with heavy gunfire, setting up burning barricades and even dropping explosives from drones in an attempt to resist the advance.
State officials claim that at least 50 of those killed were identified as suspected criminals. Police also seized more than 200 kilograms of drugs and dozens of firearms during the raid. The joint effort between civil and military police followed a year-long investigation into the gang’s activities.
Residents of the densely populated favelas home to an estimated 300,000 people have described their neighbourhoods as a “war zone,” with roads closed and daily life paralysed.
The Red Command, one of Brazil’s most powerful criminal organisations, has been expanding its reach across Rio state, controlling drug routes and entire hillside communities. Analysts say such large-scale raids often occur ahead of major international events hosted in Brazil, as authorities seek to project a tougher stance on crime.
With the UN demanding accountability and families mourning their loved ones, Rio now faces fresh scrutiny over its long-standing strategy of militarised policing in poor communities.
