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Rio Police Raid Leaves 119 Dead in Clash With Comando Vermelho

State officials now put the toll at 119, prompting scrutiny of tactics.

Overview

  • About 2,500 state police carried out the Oct. 28 sweep in favelas near Galeão International Airport, focusing on the Comando Vermelho network.
  • Authorities say they detained 113 people and seized roughly one ton of drugs along with numerous firearms.
  • State officials report four police officers were killed, with the remaining fatalities attributed to Comando Vermelho members.
  • Local outlets report traffickers used drones carrying explosives and engaged in prolonged gunbattles with police.
  • The official death toll stands at 119 as some media cite higher figures; Governor Cláudio Castro calls it the state's largest operation while critics question the human cost, described by outlets as the worst for such actions in Brazil.