Officials reported that at least 40 bodies were displayed in the streets following a significant confrontation between Brazilian police and the “Red Command” gang, which resulted in more than 100 fatalities.
This deadly event occurred after approximately 2,500 police and military personnel initiated a large-scale operation in Rio on Tuesday. The raid caused widespread disorder in the city, involving gunfights and explosives dropped by drones aimed at officers during the mission.
The operation concluded with 81 arrests and 119 deaths. This incident marked the deadliest operation in the history of the Rio police force, attracting condemnation from human rights organizations over the use of excessive force.
Rio de Janeiro’s Governor, Claudio Castro, commented on the raid, describing it as a “historic day in the battle against crime in Rio de Janeiro.”
Concurrently, human rights organizations have demanded an inquiry into the raid, citing the substantial number of casualties.
César Muñoz, Brazil director for Human Rights Watch, expressed on X that “The series of deadly operations that do not enhance public safety but instead create insecurity demonstrates the shortcomings of Rio de Janeiro’s policies,” referring to the deaths as a “tragedy.”
He further stated, “The public prosecutor’s office should launch its own inquiries and ascertain the details surrounding each fatality.”
One source referred to the raid as “the deadliest day in Rio’s history,” while another declared it “the most significant setback Comando Vermelho [Red Command] has experienced since its inception.” The number of casualties exceeded those from a police raid against the group in 2021.
In response, local media indicated that alleged gang members obstructed roads in the northern and southeastern parts of Rio, causing considerable damage to buses. Additionally, numerous universities and schools reportedly suspended classes as the city grappled with the consequences.
Local news outlets reported that residents described Tuesday as chaotic, recounting how they had to evade gunfire during the raid, which spilled over into urban areas.
An unnamed local activist informed ABC, “We witnessed individuals who had been executed: shot in the back, shot in the head, stabbed, and bound. This degree of brutality, the pervading animosity—it can only be characterized as a massacre.”
Understanding Red Command?
InSight Crime, a think tank focused on organized crime, identifies Comando Vermelho, or Red Command, as Brazil’s most enduring criminal organization. The group originated in a Rio de Janeiro prison during the 1970s, initially forming for prisoner self-defense and drawing inspiration from leftist guerrilla movements.
“The dreadful environment within Candido Mendes prison, situated on Ilha Grande island in Rio de Janeiro state, compelled prisoners to unite for survival within the correctional system,” as detailed in a profile of the group.
During the 1980s, the group diversified into cocaine production and trafficking, yet it also sustained a community presence in the underserved neighborhoods of one of Brazil’s most frequented cities. Its illegal operations encompass drug dealing, weapon smuggling, extortion, usury, and territorial disputes with rival criminal organizations in the region.
The think tank further noted that Red Command has faced challenges from militia groups attempting to encroach on its territory in recent years, alongside extensive police operations, particularly since the pandemic. They assert that over the past two years, the Red Command has reasserted control over Rio, currently “governing more than half of the city.”
Júlia Quirino, a Ph.D. candidate in Sociology and Anthropology at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), who researches the group, has found that it is even developing a mobile ride-sharing application.
Quirino’s research revealed, “Beyond being a mere curiosity, this indicates how illicit armed organizations are adopting digital technologies to enhance their ability for territorial governance and to broaden their income streams.”
Her studies, supported by state public security agencies, indicate that only 11 percent of the group’s earnings originate from drug transactions. The bulk of their revenue stems from “extortion of businesses” and the provision of “vital” services such as gas supply, water vending, and public transport.
Since 2022, Red Command has progressively expanded its dominion over Rio, engaging in conflicts with militias—some linked to the state and police—to seize territory and solidify its influence in the city.
An assessment showed that by 2024, the balance of power had tipped towards Red Command. The group was also broadening its influence beyond Rio. The Associated Press reported that by late 2024, the group controlled half of the municipalities in the state, a significant increase from one-fourth the previous year.
Authorities stated that the operation conducted in Rio was intended to curb the group’s expansion.
The raid indicates intensified enforcement
Governor Castro’s assertive strategies against drug trafficking in Rio de Janeiro reflect the right-wing approach of his erstwhile associate, former president Jair Bolsonaro. This could be a tactical move by Castro to gain political leverage concerning organized crime.
“We remain resolute in confronting narcoterrorism,” declared Castro, a member of the conservative opposition Liberal Party, after the raid.
Rio has historically faced significant issues with police misconduct. In 2020, a court mandated Rio to take measures to reduce police abuse, a directive that reportedly resulted in a substantial decrease in killings across the state.
The severity of this week’s operation prompted criticism from Marta Hurtado, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
She acknowledged, “We fully comprehend the difficulties involved in addressing violent and highly organized entities like Red Command,” yet she urged Brazil to “disrupt this pattern of intense brutality and guarantee that law enforcement actions adhere to international guidelines concerning the application of force.”
