A large-scale police operation launched on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro turned into a massacre. According to Brazilian authorities, at least 64 people were killed , including four police officers, in what is now considered the deadliest intervention in the history of the state of Rio .

An offensive of unprecedented scale

Nearly 2,500 law enforcement agents — military police, civilians and soldiers — took part in this operation targeting the criminal faction Comando Vermelho (the “Red Command”), considered one of the most powerful drug trafficking groups in the country.

The clashes were concentrated in the favela complexes of Complexo do Alemão and Complexo da Penha , north of Rio. Security forces claim to have seized several heavy weapons, drugs, and arrested more than 80 suspects .

Scenes of war in the favelas

Witnesses describe scenes of urban warfare . Buses and cars were set on fire, barricades were erected, and even drones were used by traffickers to attack law enforcement.

Terrified residents were forced to remain indoors for several hours. Many schools and public services closed, paralyzing daily life in the affected areas.

A human toll that raises questions

While local authorities speak of an "operational success", human rights organizations denounce a disproportionate use of force and are concerned about the lack of distinction between suspects and civilians.

The Brazilian Minister of Justice stated that he had not been informed in advance of the operation, raising questions about the coordination between the different levels of government.

Sensitive political context

This operation comes just days before international events in Rio, notably related to COP30 , a global climate summit. Some observers see it as an attempt by the local government to demonstrate its security resolve before these meetings.

But for many favela residents, the reality is quite different: fear, loss of life and a feeling of abandonment .

A tragedy that reignites the debate on security in Rio

Brazilian authorities promise an investigation to shed light on the exact circumstances of this tragedy.

But for many, this operation illustrates once again the limits of the repressive policy carried out in working-class neighborhoods, where poverty and violence have been intertwined for decades.