Rio Mega-Raid Leaves 121 Dead as Prosecutors Scrutinize Tactics and STF Summons State Officials

Overview

• Authorities report 121 dead, including four police officers, after a planned offensive that used a ‘muro do Bope’ tactic to push suspects into the forested area between the Alemão and Penha complexes, a narrative contested by relatives and rights groups.
• Police say 113 suspects were arrested, among them regional CV figures such as Thiago “Belão”, with 33 detainees from other states, and 118 weapons were seized, including 91 rifles plus 14 explosive devices.
• STF relator Alexandre de Moraes demanded detailed explanations from Governor Cláudio Castro and police chiefs, and Castro said he will host Moraes on Monday at the state’s command center.
• The federal government and Rio announced an emergency joint office to counter organized crime, while a federal video campaign criticized the raid’s lethality and promoted a security PEC focused on nationwide integration.
• The MPRJ is accompanying all autopsies and seeking body‑camera footage as the Public Defender asks the STF to authorize parallel forensic reports; the Brazilian Forum on Public Security condemned scene handling, as inquiries also probe CV command via messaging apps and transnational laundering links into Argentina with border vigilance raised there.