Police Counter-Drug Operation in Rio De Janeiro Kills Over One Hundred

What Happened?

A state police counter-drug operation in Rio De Janeiro killed over one hundred people, making it the deadliest police raid in Brazil’s history. State police said the raid targeting a major drug gang had been planned for several months. And the goal was to flush suspects out of the city and into a nearby forested hillside where a special operations unit was waiting to carry out a military-style ambush. 

‘The elevated lethality of the operation was expected but not desired,’ Victor Santos, head of security for Rio state, said during a press conference after the raid. 

Why it Matters

Gang violence in Brazil has been on the rise in the past decade and so has gang-related violence across much of central and South America. Many of the gangs are involved in the illicit drug trade, which provides the groups with funding they otherwise would be unable to get. The target of the police raid in Brazil is an organization known as the Red Command, which is an organized crime syndicate known for trafficking in illegal drugs.

According to local authorities in Rio De Janeiro, over two thousand police, dozens of armored vehicles, and two helicopters took part in the operation. Witnesses described a scene of violent conflict as armed members of the gang fought back against police with gunfire and attack drones. The battle continued for the better part of a day, with gang members hijacking buses and setting fire to homes and cars in the area. Residents caught in the crossfire tried to take shelter in their homes to avoid gunfire and explosives.

The exact number of fatalities is still unknown, but based on initial reports appears to be in excess of one hundred people. Four policemen were killed in the gunfire, and according to local authorities, all of those who were killed were members of the drug gang. Some local residents questioned whether all those killed were gang members, and it will likely be some time before the identities of all the fatalities are known. 

Rio De Janeiro is no stranger to violence between armed gangs and police, but the scale and timing of this raid are unique. Brazil is set to host the United Nations climate change conference in Rio De Janeiro, and it’s possible the operation was designed to try to clean up portions of the city before an international conference took place. Members of the U.N. have called for an investigation into the tactics used by Brazilian police, and state authorities have vowed to cooperate.

How it Affects You

This type of high-intensity policing blurs the lines between traditional police raids and military assaults. With the rise of gangs not just in Latin America but in many major cities around the world, the Rio De Janeiro raid may be a glimpse into the future as governments struggle to enforce laws challenged by gangs who themselves have military-like capabilities.