Deadly Police Raid in Rio de Janeiro Claims 121 Lives in Major Drug Trafficking Operation

A large-scale police operation against a drug-trafficking organization in Rio de Janeiro has resulted in at least 121 fatalities, according to authorities' Thursday morning report.

The raid, which began Tuesday in two favelas, led to intense armed confrontations. The death toll includes four police officers, officials confirmed, with an unspecified number of individuals also wounded.

Human rights groups have demanded investigations into these deaths, characterizing the operation as among Brazil's most violent police actions in recent years.

According to police statements, the operation culminated from a year-long investigation into the Red Command, a criminal organization controlling drug trafficking and various illegal activities in the underprivileged communities of Complexo do Alemao and Penha. This group, which originated within Rio's prison system, has significantly expanded its influence in recent times.

During the raid, authorities detained 113 individuals, confiscated 118 weapons, and seized over a ton of narcotics.

The violence severely disrupted daily activities in the affected neighborhoods, forcing schools to close, a local university to cancel classes, and resulting in buses being utilized as road barricades.

Rio has historically experienced deadly police operations. In March 2005, 29 people lost their lives in the Baixada Fluminense region near Rio. A May 2021 raid in the Jacarezinho favela resulted in 28 deaths.

However, Tuesday's operation was unprecedented in scale. It triggered protests, allegations of excessive force, and demands for the Rio governor's resignation.

By Thursday morning, community leaders in Penha had gathered at the headquarters of favela rights organization CUFA to arrange legal assistance for bereaved families. Many businesses remained closed, and a somber atmosphere continued to pervade the area.

This report was automatically generated from a syndicated source without NDTV staff editing.