Brazil Police Kill 64, Arrest 81 in Rio's Largest Anti-Gang Operation

A massive police operation named "Operation Containment" was conducted in Rio de Janeiro targeting the Comando Vermelho (Red Command), one of Brazil's most powerful drug trafficking organizations, resulting in at least 64 deaths, including four police officers, and 81 arrests. The operation, involving over 2,500 military and civilian police personnel, focused on the favelas of Complexo do Alemão and Penha, areas known for gang control, and included the seizure of numerous firearms and drugs. Intense gunfire exchanges and violent retaliation from gang members, including the use of drones to attack police, led to significant disruption and damage in the densely populated neighborhoods. Human rights groups and the UN have expressed serious concern over the high death toll and called for independent investigations into the raid. Rio de Janeiro Governor Claudio Castro described the operation as a fight against "narco-terrorism" and criticized the federal government for insufficient support in combating organized crime. This raid is reported as the deadliest police action in Rio's history, highlighting the ongoing struggle between law enforcement and entrenched criminal syndicates in Brazil.