At least 132 people, including four law enforcement officers, were killed in a massive Brazilian police raid in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, according to media reports.
The operation, which took place in the city’s favelas – poor neighborhoods long plagued by organized crime – was the deadliest in Rio’s history, the BBC reported. Authorities said the raid targeted drug gangs that still control large parts of the city, with the aim of attacking the powerful Comando Vermelho, or “Red Commando” organization, which controls large parts of the city.
The local public defender’s office announced the death toll, although Rio state governor Cláudio Castro warned that the forensic investigation was still ongoing. He said the official number he had received was 58 deaths, but added that this “will certainly change”.
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Police officers escort a suspect arrested during Operacao Contencao from the Vila Cruzeiro favela, in the Penha complex, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Tuesday. At least 2,500 security force officers took part in an operation to arrest drug traffickers. (Photo by Mauro Pimintel/AFP via Getty Images)
“To be completely honest, the conflict didn’t take place in built-up areas – it all took place in the forests,” Castro said. “So I don’t think anyone just walked through the woods on a day of conflict. And that’s why we can easily classify them.”
Authorities said gang members allegedly used drones to drop explosives on police officers as the operation unfolded.
“This is how Rio’s police are being treated by criminals: with bombs dropped by drones. This is the magnitude of the challenge we face. This is not an ordinary crime, but narco-terrorism,” Castro said.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed shock at the killings and said he was surprised that the federal government had not been informed of the raid in advance.
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Rio de Janeiro’s public security chief Victor dos Santos speaks to the media while displaying weapons (not pictured) that police say were captured in what was the deadliest police operation in Brazil’s history. (Reuters/Tita Barros)
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He also paid tribute to the four officers who died during the operation.
“Marcus Vinícius Cardoso de Carvalho, commissioner of the 53rd police station; Rodrigo Velloso Cabral, of the 39th police station; and Cleiton Serafim Gonçalves and Heber Carvalho da Fonseca, both sergeants of BOPE, gave their lives in the fulfillment of the duty to protect the Fluminense population,” the governor wrote.
On Wednesday, Castro’s office said 113 people had been arrested, 10 teenagers had been detained and authorities had seized 91 rifles, 29 handguns, 14 explosives and a ton of cocaine.
Officials display firearms during a news conference, which police said were captured during what was the deadliest police operation in Brazil’s history, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 29, 2025. (Reuters/Tita Barros)
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The deadly raid has reignited debate in Brazil over police tactics, human rights and the government’s ongoing battle to control powerful gangs entrenched in Rio’s impoverished communities.
