Protest Blocks Major Mangueira Roads After DRF Scrapyard Operation

Overview

• Police from the Delegacia de Roubos e Furtos (DRF) carried out an operation at scrapyards in the Favela do Metrô on Wednesday and exchanged gunfire with alleged traffickers.
• Authorities reported a seizure at the scene and said there were no injuries from the shooting.
• After police left the immediate area, local residents set fire to tires and garbage containers and blocked Rua São Francisco Xavier and Avenida Rei Pelé, creating barricades that stopped traffic in both directions.
• The city’s Centro de Operações Rio issued alternative routes, including Avenida Professor Manoel de Abreu, and police units remained on site while traffic congestion spread toward access points for Maracanã and Uerj.
• The Favela do Metrô grew during metro construction and has a history of contested removals, which helps explain the tension in the area and the risk of further protests or police actions that could prolong disruption for commuters and nearby residents.