The mega-operation carried out in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday (28) — — left at least 132 dead (among them four police officers), according to the state’s Public Defender’s Office, 81 arrested and 93 rifles seized. The action, which mobilized 2,500 agents, aimed to combat the expansion of the criminal faction CV (Comando Vermelho).
To journalists, the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro (PL)criticized the federal government, — who did not participate in yesterday’s action — and classified the APDF (Argument of Non-compliance with Fundamental Precept) of Favelas how.
What is an ADPF?
An Allegation of Non-compliance with a Fundamental Precept is a type of action filed in the STF to avoid or repair damage to a fundamental precept, or when the basis of the constitutional controversy over a federal, state or municipal law or normative act is relevant, including those prior to the 1988 Constitution.
What is ADPF das Favelas?
ADPF 635, filed in the Supreme Court in 2019 for the PSB (Brazilian Socialist Party)questions police violence in operations in communities in Rio de Janeiro and seeks to establish guidelines to reduce police lethality.
In this context, in 2020 the STF minister Edson Fachin during the Covid-19 pandemic.
At the time, the exception was for hypotheses considered exceptional, which had to be duly justified in writing by the competent authorities, with immediate communication to the MPRJ (Public Ministry of the State of Rio de Janeiro), responsible for external control of police activity.
STF partially approved RJ government plan
In April 2025, by partially approving a plan from the Rio de Janeiro government.
On that occasion, the STF also ordered the Rio de Janeiro government to prepare a plan to retake territories controlled by criminal organizations and present more transparent data about police operations with deaths. See details of what the Supreme Court established:
- Information should indicate which security force, civil or military, had carried out lethal shots and in which operation this occurred;
- Internal Affairs would have 60 days, in cases of deaths, to complete administrative investigations — in turn, the state will have 180 days to establish a mental health assistance program for public security professionals;
- Authorization for operations near schools, previously prohibited, as long as the use of force was respected, especially when entering and leaving classes;
- House searches authorized only during the day and, within 180 days, the presence of support ambulances is mandatory.
ADPF das Favelas lived in “limbo” in the STF
. Until yesterday, the action had been without an official rapporteur since the 18th, since the holder, Luís Roberto Barroso, retired from the Court this month.
In order not to leave the ADPF of Favelas “in the open” at this moment, due to an interpretation of the Supreme Court’s internal regulations.
The minister will temporarily have the responsibility to deliberate on the requests filed with the ADPF regarding Tuesday’s mega operation.
The CNDH (National Human Rights Council), for example, .
The measures would include a detailed report on the operation, a formal justification for the degree of force applied and the number of agents and weapons used.
In the CNDH’s assessment, the Supreme Court must also hold Castro accountable for the measures being adopted to ensure that agents are held accountable for abusive conduct.
(Published by Lucas Schroeder, with information from Davi Vittorazzi, Elijonas Mais, Luísa Martins and Agência Senado)
