At least 60 people, including four police officers, have been confirmed dead following Brazil’s largest-ever anti-drug operation in Rio de Janeiro. Authorities described the raid as a major offensive against the Comando Vermelho gang, one of the country’s most powerful criminal organizations.
The large-scale operation unfolded in Rio’s northern Alemao and Penha neighborhoods, areas long known as strongholds for organized crime. More than 2,500 police officers and 32 armored vehicles were deployed to the scene, with security forces engaging in intense gun battles with suspected gang members.
According to police reports, the raid led to 81 arrests, while officers recovered 42 rifles and seized significant quantities of illegal drugs. Authorities say the mission aimed to dismantle the gang’s drug trafficking network and restore safety to the affected communities.
The operation has drawn both praise and criticism, with some hailing it as a decisive strike against organized crime and others raising concerns over the high death toll and potential human rights violations.
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