October 30, 2025

Rio de Janeiro witnessed a bloody scene after a massive police raid targeting a notorious drug gang called the Red Command. The brutal operation left at least 119 people dead, including 115 suspects and four policemen, shaking the city and raising serious questions about police use of force. Dozens of residents from the poor favelas of Penha and Complexo de Alemao gathered to protest outside the state's government building. They shouted "assassins!" and waved Brazilian flags smeared with red paint, showing their anger and grief. Families laid dozens of bodies on a street to expose the scale of the tragedy. Barbara Barbosa, a domestic worker from Penha, angrily called it "a massacre." She reminded everyone of her son’s death in a previous raid there. Activist Rute Sales shouted, "Do we have a death sentence? Stop killing us." The police had launched the raid with around 2,500 officers, soldiers, helicopters, and armored vehicles. The gang fought back fiercely, leading to wild scenes across the city. Schools closed, roads blocked with buses, and many shops stayed shut. Local activist Raull Santiago described horrific sights: "Executed people: shot in the back, shots to the head, stab wounds, people tied up. This level of brutality... there's no other way to describe it except as a massacre." Rio's police secretary Felipe Curi revealed that some bodies were found in the woods wearing camouflage, but local people had removed their clothes and equipment, which is now being investigated as tampering with evidence. Authorities said they arrested 113 suspects and seized 90 rifles and over a ton of drugs. The Supreme Court and human rights groups demanded detailed reports from Governor Claudio Castro, who called the operation a "success" in fighting "narco-terrorism." However, justice officials and the United Nations warned Brazil to stop this cycle of "extreme brutality." UN spokesperson Marta Hurtado said Brazil must follow international rules on using force and reform policing. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva responded by ordering meetings with Rio's leaders to find solutions to crime without more violence. He stressed that crime destroys families and communities. Experts say these violent raids have been happening for years, but the scale and death count this time is alarming. Roberto Uchoa, a public safety expert, warned: "Killing over 100 people won’t stop the gang from growing. The dead will soon be replaced." As Rio reels from the bloodshed, many ask: can justice be served without turning neighborhoods into war zones? And will this war on crime ever end, or only bring more pain? The city waits with bated breath.

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Tags: Rio de janeiro, Police raid, Drug gang, Red command, Massacre, Human rights,