At least 119 people have been killed in Brazil’s deadliest police operation in Rio de Janeiro, drawing international condemnation and renewed debate over the country’s heavy-handed war on drugs. The raid, which targeted the powerful Comando Vermelho (Red Command) gang, turned the city’s favelas into a battlefield, leaving families grieving and officials divided.
Authorities said 115 suspected criminals and four police officers were killed during the massive operation in the Complexo da Penha favela. Helicopters, armored vehicles, and drones backed hundreds of officers in the raid, which state governor Claudio Castro hailed as a “success” against what he termed “narcoterrorism.”
However, harrowing accounts from residents painted a grim picture. Families accused police of executing suspects, with some victims reportedly showing signs of torture. One mother, Raquel Tomas, told AFP her 19-year-old son had been decapitated. “They executed my son without giving him a chance to defend himself,” she said.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed concern over the high death toll, calling for a more humane approach to combating organized crime. “We need coordinated work that strikes at the backbone of drug trafficking without putting innocent police officers, children, and families at risk,” he wrote on X.
The United Nations joined in condemning the violence. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “greatly concerned,” while the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights called for swift investigations into possible extrajudicial killings.
As Brazil prepares to host the COP30 UN climate talks, the raid has cast a shadow over the government’s security record. With the 2026 elections approaching, President Lula faces growing pressure to balance crime control with human rights — a test that could define his political legacy.
