Rio's Deadly Police Raid: A Failed Attempt to Dismantle Gang Control

Fri Nov 14 2025 00:26:32 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Despite a massive police operation resulting in numerous arrests and casualties, residents report that the notorious gang Comando Vermelho maintains its stranglehold on local communities in Rio de Janeiro.

A recent police raid in Rio de Janeiro, touted as a significant strike against the Comando Vermelho gang, has drawn widespread criticism. The operation resulted in the deaths of 121 individuals, including four police officers, but residents report no change in the gang's dominance. The operation's effectiveness has been questioned, with key gang leaders remaining at large and rights groups condemning the high civilian death toll.

New details which have emerged in the aftermath of Brazil's deadliest police operation are casting doubts over whether the raid really struck at the heart of one of the country's most powerful criminal gangs, as was its stated aim.

One hundred and twenty one people, among them four police officers, were killed in the raid on 28 October in Rio de Janeiro.

The governor of Rio de Janeiro state, Claudio Castro, described the police operation as a success, posting a photo showing the more than 100 rifles seized by police.

But rights groups have sharply criticised the security forces pointing to the high death toll and what they have described as the brutality of their actions.

The operation was the largest ever carried out by Rio's security forces and saw 2,500 officers deployed to the Alemão and Penha neighbourhoods.

It targeted the Comando Vermelho (Red Command) criminal gang, which rules over the nine-million-square-metre area.

Rio's public safety secretary, Victor dos Santos, told Reuters that the goal of the operation had been to carry out scores of arrest warrants issued by prosecutors.

However, local media have highlighted that none of the deceased matched the suspects on the police's own list, raising questions about the raid's objectives.

Residents have reported that their daily lives have barely changed since the operation, with armed gang members still seen roaming the community.

Comando Vermelho's control extends beyond drug trafficking; they impose strict rules on essential services like gas and transportation, charging residents inflated prices and enforcing regulations on everyday life.

While the operation resulted in several arrests, the gang's leadership remains intact. Critics argue that the oppressive environment created by the CV continues unabated, illustrating the challenges facing law enforcement in subduing organized crime in Rio.

Amid the turmoil, Governor Castro has announced plans for more operations, insisting on a hardline approach against gang control in the region, while federal investigations into the raid are also underway.