The death toll resulting from a large-scale police operation targeting a notorious gang in Rio de Janeiro has climbed to 119, including four police officers, as confirmed by Brazilian law enforcement. Initial reports had indicated a total of 60 alleged gang members and four law enforcement personnel following the massive operation conducted by 2,500 police officers and soldiers on Tuesday, which led to clashes in two impoverished neighborhoods of the city. The number of suspects detained has now risen to 113, up from the previously reported 81, according to police spokesperson Felipe Curi during a press briefing.
The operation, considered one of the most violent in recent Brazilian history, has prompted calls from human rights organizations for thorough investigations into the fatalities. Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski revealed on Wednesday that the federal government had not been informed in advance about the raids, expressing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s shock at the high casualty count. Lewandowski has scheduled a meeting with provincial officials in Rio to discuss the situation.
The operation, which involved helicopters and armored vehicles, specifically targeted the infamous Red Command gang in the vast, low-income favelas of Complexo de Alemao and Penha, according to police statements. The raid took place ahead of Rio hosting the C40 global summit of mayors focused on addressing climate change next week, leading up to COP30, the United Nations climate summit set to be held for ten days in November in the Amazon city of Belem.
‘A significant tragedy’
The United Nations’ human rights body expressed deep concern over the deadly police operation, calling for thorough investigations and reminding authorities of their responsibilities under international human rights law. César Muñoz, the director of Human Rights Watch in Brazil, labeled the events on Tuesday as “a significant tragedy” and a “disaster,” urging the public prosecutor’s office to launch independent investigations to clarify the circumstances surrounding each fatality.
Social media footage captured fire and smoke emanating from the two favelas amid the sound of gunshots. The city’s Education Department reported the closure of 46 schools in the affected neighborhoods, with the nearby Federal University of Rio de Janeiro canceling evening classes and advising individuals on campus to seek shelter. Responding to the raid, suspected gang members reportedly barricaded roads in northern and southeastern Rio, seizing at least 70 buses for blockades that caused significant disruptions, as per local media accounts.
According to law enforcement officials, the operation on Tuesday followed a year-long investigation into the criminal group. Castro, a member of the conservative opposition Liberal Party, previously emphasized the need for increased federal support in combating crime, indirectly criticizing the administration led by Lula, known for its leftist policies. In response, Gleisi Hoffmann, the liaison between the Lula administration and the parliament, acknowledged the necessity of coordinated actions but highlighted recent efforts targeting money laundering as part of the federal government’s strategy against organized crime.
Originating from Rio’s prisons, the Red Command criminal gang has extended its influence in favelas in recent years. Rio has a history of deadly police operations, with previous incidents such as the killing of 29 individuals in the city’s Baixada Fluminense region in March 2005 and the deaths of 28 people in the Jacarezinho favela in May 2021.