The Rio de Janeiro public defender’s office said on Wednesday a total of 132 people died in the bloodiest police raid against drug gangs in the Brazilian city’s history, as grieving residents laid out dozens of bodies in the street.
Earlier today the death toll was estimated at at least 64 deaths, in war-like scenes that horrified international observers.
As many as 2,500 heavily armed officers, backed by armoured vehicles, helicopters and drones took part in the operation targeting Brazil’s main drug-trafficking gang in two poor neighbourhoods, or favelas, in northern Rio.
State Governor Claudio Castro described the operation in the Complexo da Penha and Complexo do Alemao favelas as the largest in the state’s history. The central government said the raids aimed to stop a gang called Comando Vermelho (Red Command) from expanding.
Unprecedented violence
Gunfire rang out in the area near Rio’s international airport, and smoke billowed from several fires on Tuesday afternoon, several hours after the raids started. Residents scrambled for cover and shops closed their doors amid police claims that the gangs were using drones to fight back.
Reports also state thatt four police officers were also killed.
“This is the first time we’ve seen drones from criminals dropping bombs in the community,” said a Penha resident, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Everyone is terrified because there’s so much gunfire.”
City paralysed
The massive operation ground traffic on many of the seaside city’s main streets to a halt, leaving residents stranded.
“We’re left without buses, without anything, in this chaos and not knowing what to do,” said Regina Pinheiro, a 70-year-old retiree trying to return home.
AFP witnessed police in the Vila Cruzeiro neighbourhood guarding about 20 young people huddled together on the sidewalk, heads bowed, barefoot, and shirtless.
Escalating gang warfare
Police mobilised two helicopters, 32 armoured vehicles, and 12 demolition vehicles to destroy barricades erected by drug traffickers in the narrow favela streets. Castro posted video footage showing what he described as a gang-controlled drone launching projectiles from the sky.
“This is how the Rio police are treated by criminals: with bombs dropped by drones,” Castro said. “This is not ordinary crime, but narcoterrorism.”
International condemnation
The UN human rights office said it was “horrified” by Tuesday’s violence, calling the operation part of a troubling trend of deadly police operations in Brazil’s marginalised communities.
“We remind authorities of their obligations under international human rights law, and urge prompt and effective investigations,” UN officials said in a statement.
Congressman Henrique Vieira condemned the operation, writing that the state government “treats the favela as enemy territory, with a license to shoot and kill.”
Ongoing crisis
Raids in the favelas are common, but Tuesday’s operation was the deadliest yet. The previous record was set in 2021 when 28 people died in a single raid.
Last year, approximately 700 people died during police operations in Rio – almost two per day. Experts and human rights organisations have criticised these security efforts as ineffective against criminal organisations.
The Human Rights Commission of the Rio State Legislative Assembly announced it would demand explanations for an action that has “once again transformed Rio’s favelas into a theatre of war and barbarism,” according to commission head Dani Monteiro.
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