Rio Megaoperation Deemed ‘Minimal’ Against CV as Political Rift Widens and Federal Security Push Advances

Overview

• Daniel Ferreira de Souza, the PM-RJ intelligence subsecretary, told a congressional intelligence panel the raid’s practical impact on the Comando Vermelho was “ínfimo,” calling it largely symbolic in reasserting state presence.
• Rio’s Military Police said the remarks reflect his personal view, as updated figures list more than 121 dead and 113 arrested in what outlets describe as the state’s most lethal operation, which also killed four officers.
• President Lula labeled the action a “matança,” and he and Governor Cláudio Castro have not spoken, as Castro touts the operation and promotes a new “Consórcio da Paz” with allied governors.
• Five former justice ministers and jurists urged Lula to create a special presidential security secretariat, while Ricardo Lewandowski met Northeast leaders who backed the federal PEC on security integration and the Antifacção bill and rejected labeling gangs as terrorists.
• Spillover actions continued as a joint operation in Caraíva, Bahia, targeted CV members, seized an arsenal and left five suspects dead, while CPI organizers moved to hear governors and São Paulo’s Tarcísio de Freitas publicly defended the Rio raid.