Operation Barricade Zero wants to remove more than 13,000 obstacles installed by criminal factions
The government of Rio de Janeiro removed 1,800 tons of barricades in territories dominated by criminal factions in one week. The information was published on Friday (Nov 28, 2025) by the governor on his profile on X.
The measure is part of the started on November 24, 2025. The objective is remove 13,604 obstacles installed by criminals on public roads. The action involves security forces, state departments and city halls.
Watch the video released by Castro (1min):
The first days of Operation Barricade Zero revealed stunning images of the reality that crime imposed on our communities. More than 1,800 tons of blockages have already been removed.
No illegal blockade will stop the State.
— Cláudio Castro (@claudiocastroRJ)
The initial schedule of the operation covers 12 municipalities in the State: Rio de Janeiro, Belford Roxo, Japeri, Nova Iguaçu, São Gonçalo, Itaboraí, Duque de Caxias, Queimados, São João de Meriti, Nilópolis, Mesquita and Maricá.
To make the removals viable, the State purchased 50 “demolition kits”which include hydraulic breakers, backhoe loaders and dump trucks. “The idea is that we can restore and reestablish, in one fell swoop, urban mobility”stated Castro on November 17, 2025, when the operation was presented.
Agent during the Barricada Zero operation carried out on November 27
Castro also declared that if the factions install new barriers, an operation by the State’s elite troops will begin, formed by the BOPE (Special Police Operations Battalion), from the Military Police, and the Core (Special Operations Coordination), from the Civil Police.
See images of Operation Barricada Zero (1min18s):
