Brazilian police reported that the death toll resulting from a massive police operation targeting a notorious gang in Rio de Janeiro climbed to 119 on Wednesday, including four law enforcement officers. The operation, conducted by 2,500 police and soldiers in two low-income neighborhoods of the city, initially resulted in the deaths of 60 suspected gang members and four police officers. The number of suspects arrested increased to 113 from 81, according to police spokesperson Felipe Curi during a press conference.
The violent operation, one of the most intense in recent Brazilian history, prompted calls from human rights organizations for investigations into the fatalities. Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski disclosed that the federal government was not informed in advance about the raids, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was reportedly shocked by the high casualty count. Lewandowski intends to convene with provincial officials in Rio.
The targeted gang in the sprawling favelas of Complexo de Alemao and Penha was the notorious Red Command, as helicopters and armored vehicles were deployed in the operation. The timing of the raid coincided with Rio preparing to host the C40 global summit of mayors addressing climate change next week, leading up to COP30, the United Nations climate summit set for November in Belem, an Amazon city.
The United Nations’ human rights body expressed horror at the deadly police operation and urged thorough investigations, emphasizing international human rights law obligations. Human Rights Watch’s Brazil director, César Muñoz, described the events as a “huge tragedy” and a “disaster,” urging independent investigations by the public prosecutor’s office to clarify the circumstances surrounding each death.
Social media footage captured fire and smoke billowing from the favelas during the operation, with gunfire echoing amid the chaos. The closure of 46 schools in the affected areas and the cancellation of night classes by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro were announced as safety precautions. Suspected gang members reportedly barricaded roads in response to the raid, seizing at least 70 buses for blockades that caused significant disruptions, as per Rio Onibus, the city’s transit organization.
The police action followed a year-long investigation into the criminal group, with political figures exchanging views on the government’s response to crime. The Red Command gang’s expansion in favelas from Rio’s prisons in recent years has posed ongoing challenges. The operation’s magnitude drew criticism from experts, with sociologist Luis Flavio Sapori characterizing the casualties as “war numbers” and questioning the efficacy of such operations in addressing organized crime.
The Marielle Franco Institute, established by the family of the slain councilwoman in 2018, condemned the operation as a “policy of extermination,” reflecting concerns over the impact on marginalized communities.