Brazil's Deadliest Police Raid: 119 Killed in Massive Operation Against Comando Vermelho in Rio Favelas

Brazil witnessed approximately 2,500 heavily armed police officers storming two major strongholds of the criminal organization Comando Vermelho.

Brazil:

Following the most lethal police operation in Brazil's history, the nation continues to gather information about the raids conducted against a powerful drug cartel in Rio de Janeiro's favelas.

The confirmed death toll has reached 119 individuals, including four police officers, resulting from a massive operation that once again revealed the violent underworld far removed from the city's tourist destinations.

Here is what has been confirmed and what remains uncertain:

Target: Comando Vermelho

Operation Containment was designed to weaken the Comando Vermelho (Red Command), Rio's oldest and most influential criminal organization that has experienced rapid expansion recently, according to official sources.

Approximately 2,500 heavily armed officers supported by armored vehicles, helicopters, and drones invaded two key strongholds of the gang on Tuesday - the extensive Alemao and Penha favela complexes.

Comando Vermelho represents one of at least four criminal factions competing for territorial control, collectively dominating about 20 percent of Rio's metropolitan area, as reported by the Fogo Cruzado monitoring organization.

The group recently surpassed the city's militias in terms of territorial influence, though experts indicate the struggle for dominance in the city remains ongoing.

Organizations like Comando Vermelho have expanded beyond drug trafficking by assuming control of valuable services in favelas such as internet, water, electricity, and transportation - making territorial control synonymous with revenue generation.

Casualties and Arrests

The Rio state government reported 119 deaths, while the public defender's office informed AFP they had counted 132.

Authorities also confirmed 113 individuals were detained, including 10 minors, and 91 rifles were confiscated.

Governor Claudio Castro announced Tuesday that a "large quantity" of drugs was seized, without specifying the type or amount.

Historically Lethal Operations

This operation stands as Brazil's deadliest to date, exceeding the 1992 Carandiru prison massacre in Sao Paulo, which resulted in 111 inmate deaths when military police intervened to suppress a riot.

In Rio, the second and third deadliest police raids occurred in 2021 and 2022, in Jacarezinho and Vila Cruzeiro, claiming 28 and 25 lives respectively.

Both operations took place under the same conservative governor, Claudio Castro.

President Lula Not Informed

The raids were organized and executed by the Rio de Janeiro state government under Castro, an ally of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.

The operation occurred "without the knowledge of the federal government," Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski stated Wednesday.

President Lula generated controversy last week when, during a visit to Indonesia, he remarked that drug traffickers "are also victims of the users," while discussing United States' actions against narcotraffickers in Venezuela.

He later clarified on social media that this was a "poorly-worded phrase" and assured that "we will remain firm in confronting drug trafficking and organized crime."

Remaining Questions

The identities of those killed have not been disclosed, making it unclear whether they were among the suspects targeted under judicial warrants.

It also remains uncertain how significant the deceased and arrested individuals were within Comando Vermelho's organizational structure.

Brazilian media reported that one of those arrested was Thiago do Nascimento Mendes, an alleged lieutenant of suspected local leader Edgard Alves de Andrade, who managed to escape capture.

Following accusations from residents that police conducted "executions," Brazil's prosecutor's office requested Governor Castro provide details of the operation to determine if officers acted within legal boundaries.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an "immediate investigation" into the incidents.