BY OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN ROSE
At least 60 people died in a deadly police operation in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, according to state official, It was a raid which targeted a major gang days before the city hosts global events related to the United Nations climate summit known as COP30.
Police have often conducted large-scale operations against organized crime ahead of major events in Rio, which hosted matches of the 2014 World Cup, the 2016 Olympics, the 2024 G20 summit and the BRICS summit this year.
The casualties from those operations were far less than the roughly 60 dead on Tuesday, according to a Rio state official who spoke on condition of anonymity to share an estimate more than double the official figure of at least 22 deaths given earlier in the day.
“We stand firm confronting narcoterrorism,” Rio Governor Claudio Castro wrote on social media about the operation, which he said involved 2,500 security personnel and 32 armored vehicles across the Alemao and Penha favela complexes.
The Comando Vermelho is considered the second largest criminal organization in Brazil, with up to 30,000 members nationwide according to InSight Crime.
In a statement, the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police said 42 rifles had been confiscated as well as 200kg of drugs, found in the Penha favela.
Next week, Rio hosts the C40 global summit of mayors tackling climate change and Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, which will feature celebrities including pop star Kylie Minogue and four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel.
The state government described the operation as the largest ever targeting the Comando Vermelho gang. At least 56 people have been arrested as authorities sought to serve 250 arrest and search warrants, the government added.
Photo credit – reuters
