Lula’s ‘Matança’ Remark Intensifies Fight Over Rio Megaoperation as STF and Senate Launch Scrutiny

Overview

• Operation Contenção left 121 dead, including four police officers, after 2,500 agents targeted Comando Vermelho in the Alemão and Penha complexes, with dozens arrested and weapons seized.
• After meeting rights groups, Minister Alexandre de Moraes said he will seek more information and pace the inquiry, with concerns raised about forensic capacity, victim assistance, the CNMP’s curb on MPF oversight, and inconsistencies in the state’s justifications.
• The Senate installed a CPI on organized crime led by Fabiano Contarato (chair), Hamilton Mourão (vice chair) and Alessandro Vieira (rapporteur), with plans to call figures such as Goiás governor Ronaldo Caiado.
• In a 26‑page report to the STF, Governor Cláudio Castro cited a police armament disadvantage against paramilitary‑level factions using drones to drop grenades and military‑caliber rifles, claimed no non‑gang fatalities were recorded, and described obstacles to preserving crime scenes.
• President Lula labeled the raid a “matança” and urged an investigation, triggering pushback from the right as social media mentions of organized crime surged and a court ordered X to remove a post calling the PT a “party of traffickers,” while reports noted Castro’s rising approval and TCP’s push to control betting in Ceará.