No less than 64 Fatally Wounded in Rio de Janeiro's Most Extensive Law Enforcement Operation on Organized Crime
No less than 64 individuals lost their lives in a security raid targeting the criminal organization Comando Vermelho in Rio de Janeiro's north zone - the largest and deadliest raid in the region's history.
Four security agents were included in the fatalities during the police action in the communities of Alemão and Penha, government representatives said. More than 80 suspects were taken into custody.
Violent conflicts erupted when approximately 2,500 police forces moved in on Tuesday early hours. The criminal organization countered with armed resistance, igniting obstacles and launching explosives via unmanned aircraft, police representatives stated.
The UN Human Rights Office said it was "shocked" by the law enforcement raid, calling for "immediate and thorough inquiries".
Mission Consequences
The informal settlements close to the city's international airport is seen as the main base of a major criminal organizations.
Government representatives stated no less than 50 of the deceased were "identified by authorities as alleged offenders".
Numerous individuals were injured, including non-combatants affected by the violence.
Resident Accounts
Residents have described the hillside area - inhabited by approximately 300,000 residents - to a "battlefield" since the raid started.
Access ways continue shut in the entire neighborhood.
Criminal Expansion
The criminal network have been expanding their territory across the Rio state, expanding narcotics distribution networks and control of the hillside favelas.
Security forces stated over 200kg (441lb) of illegal substances were captured in the mission, in addition to dozens of firearms.
Mission Context
The coordinated mission by different law enforcement agencies comes after a year-long investigation.
Dozens of the suspects are considered participants in an organization from the Pará state who are at the moment taking refuge in Rio de Janeiro.
Wider Perspective
Extensive security missions are frequent in the South American nation prior to important worldwide conferences in the South American nation.
The United Nations climate conference COP30 is set to occur in the northern city of Belem in the eleventh month.
