Long Preparation for the Operation
According to police information, planning for the raid against the largest drug cartel in the state took more than two months. The operation involved pushing suspects out of residential areas into forest zones, where special forces were waiting.The head of the state security service of Rio, Victor Santos, noted that the high fatality rate was predictable, though undesirable. He promised to investigate possible abuses by law enforcement.
The police actions were directed against the Comando Vermelho ("Red Command") gang, which controls drug trafficking in several favelas of the city. As a result of the operation, 113 suspects were detained and 118 weapons were seized.
Protests and Bodies on the Streets
At night, residents of the Penha neighborhood began to carry out the bodies of the deceased. More than 70 bodies were displayed on the main street.
Photo Reuters.
Photo Reuters.
During the day, a motorcycle protest convoy began in the area, heading towards the governor's building with Brazilian flags, which bore the prints of red hands - a symbol of police violence.
Photo Reuters.
Official Response and Statements from the President
Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva called for a coordinated fight against drug crime, emphasizing that operations should be conducted with the safety of both police and citizens in mind.He noted on the social network X: "We cannot allow organized crime to destroy families and spread violence."
The state governor, Claudio Castro, in turn, expressed confidence that all the deceased were armed criminals.
I don't think anyone would accidentally end up in the forest on the day of the clashes. The only real victims are the police.The Minister of Justice, Ricardo Lewandowski, reported that 50 federal police officers were sent to Rio to strengthen the fight against organized crime.
Photo Reuters.
UN Demand for Investigation
The UN Human Rights Office expressed serious concern about the level of violence and called for an immediate and independent investigation.The agency emphasizes that authorities are obliged to fulfill their international commitments and insists on a prompt and effective investigation.
According to human rights defenders, some victims' bodies show signs of extrajudicial executions, such as bound limbs and gunshot wounds to the face and neck.
Lawyer Guilherme Pimentel, representing the interests of the victims' relatives, reported signs of torture on the victims' bodies.
Historical Context of the Tragedy
The previous record for the number of victims during a police operation in Rio de Janeiro was set in 2021, when 28 people died as a result of a raid in the Jacarezinho neighborhood.The current raid has become the bloodiest in Brazil's history, surpassing even the tragedy of 1992, when 111 inmates died during the suppression of a riot at the Carandiru prison in São Paulo.
