Deadlyโ Raid in Rio โขFavelas Leaves Dozens Dead, police Claim Gangs Used Drones
Rio de Janeiro, โขBrazil โค- A massiveโข police operation targeting drug gangs in the Complexo da Penha and โขComplexo do Alemao favelas of Rio de Janeiro has resulted in at least 60 deaths of suspected gang members and four police officers, authorities reported Tuesday. Theโค raid, described by Stateโค Governor Claudio Castro โคas the largest in the state’s history, is ongoingโฃ as of Tuesday afternoon local time.
This operation โขmarks a significant escalation in โBrazil’s โongoing struggle against organized crime and highlightsโข the extreme violence plaguing Rio de janeiro’s impoverished communities. The centralโฃ government stated the raid aimed to dismantle the expansion โขof the Comando Vermelho โข(Red Command) gang,a powerful criminal organization deeply โentrenched in the favelas. The high death toll raises concerns about police โขtactics and the escalating conflict between law enforcement and โheavilyโ armed criminal groups,with reports emerging thatโ gangs utilized drones to counter police advances.
Police deployed substantial resources,including two helicopters,32 armored vehicles,and 12โฃ demolition vehicles to breach barricades erected by drug traffickers within the narrow streets of the favelas. The use of heavy equipment underscores theโ challenges faced by authorities attempting to penetrate these fortified areas.
Prior raids in Rio’s favelas areโฃ common,but this operation surpasses previous death tolls,exceeding the 28 fatalities recorded in a โ2021 raid. Large-scale policeโฃ interventions are frequent in Rio, a major tourist destination, as authorities attempt to regain control of neighborhoods ofen dominated by criminal gangs. The ongoing operation signals a renewed effort to address the pervasive issue of drug trafficking โฃand gang violence in the region.
