A police operation targeting a gang in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, reportedly killed at least 64 people.
According to The Times and the BBC, the Red Command gang was targeted by police on Tuesday, Oct. 28, in Rio de Janeiro’s northern suburbs, near the international airport.
While their goal was to serve arrest warrants on the drug trafficking gang’s top leaders, the operation turned into the largest and deadliest raid in Rio de Janeiro history, according to the BBC.
According to The Times, gang members retaliated with gunfire and grenades after authorities stormed two communities. The raid involved more than 2,500 police officers. The police operation included two helicopters, numerous drones, 22 armored vehicles, and 12 demolition vehicles.
The BBC claimed that barricades were burnt in the Alemão and Penha districts.
“Criminals in Rio de Janeiro greet police with drone-dropped bombs. This is the scale of the challenge we face. “It is no longer a common crime; it is drug terrorism,” state Governor Cláudio Castro posted on Facebook.
According to The Times, Castro claimed that the gang members who were killed resisted capture. Authorities claimed 51 arrest warrants were prepared ahead of the operation, with the majority for people accused of drug trafficking and three facing torture accusations.
In a press release, the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro State announced that four cops were slain.
“Our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the civil police officers Marcos VinÃcius Cardoso de Carvalho, 51; Rodrigo Velloso Cabral, 34; and the military police officers Heber Carvalho da Fonseca, 39; and Cleiton Serafim Gonçalves, 42, who were killed in defense of society during Operation Contenção, in the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro, on October 28, Public Servant’s Day,” the Portuguese-speaking group wrote.
In a combined Instagram post, police stated they had made nearly 100 arrests and collected over 90 firearms.
According to the post, dozens of gang members were slain during the raid, and police say half a ton of cocaine were seized, as reported by The Times.
According to the BBC and Reuters, police activities in Brazil are frequent in the lead up to major events.
According to their website, the UN climate meeting COP30 will take place in Belem beginning November 6, while Prince William will go solo to Rio de Janeiro for his Earthshot Prize awards ceremony on November 5.
According to the BBC and The Times, the UN Human Rights Office stated that it was “horrified” by the dead toll as a result of the operations. “This tragic operation adds to the trend of dramatic lethal effects from police operations in Brazil’s marginalized neighborhoods. We remind authorities of their obligations under international human rights law and call for swift and effective investigations.
