Antonio Lacerda / EPA
Police operation against organized crime leaves dozens of dead in Rio de Janeiro
At least 18 members of organized crime died this Tuesday, and 81 were arrested, in a mega-operation in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro against the Comando Vermelho group, which retaliated with a drone attack. “There are around 9 million m² of clutter” in the Brazilian city.
Two Brazilian police officers died this Tuesday, in an action as part of the call Operation Containmenta permanent initiative to combat organized crime promoted by the state government of Rio de Janeiro.
According to the portal, during the mega-operation at least 18 members of the Red Command were motorcycles and 81 were detained.
The traffickers reacted with fire, with barricades on fire and with bombs dropped by drones.
“This is how the Rio de Janeiro police are received by criminals: with bombs dropped by drones. This is the size of the challenge that we face. It is no longer a common crime, it is narcoterrorism”, in X the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Claudio Castro.
The governor’s publication is accompanied by a video of the operations, in which it is possible to see the use of drones to launch bombs against the authorities.
This is how the Rio de Janeiro police are received by criminals: with bombs dropped by drones. This is the size of the challenge we face. It is no longer a common crime, it is narcoterrorism.
— Cláudio Castro (@claudiocastroRJ)
The Secretary of Public Security of Rio de Janeiro, Victor Santosstated that the operation was planned in advance and had no support from the federal government. “This logistics is the responsibility of the state itself. There are around 9 million m² of clutter in Rio de Janeiro,” he said.
According to G1, among the dead suspects is one of the main leaders of the faction.
Among those arrested is Thiago do Nascimento Mendes, the Belão do Quitungoone of the heads of the Red Command in the region. Another of the captured criminals is Nicolas Fernandes Soaresappointed as a financial operator for one of CV’s top bosses, Edgar Alves de Andrade, the Dock or Bear.
There are still nine officers shot and three civilians were hit. In total, 81 men were detained, five of whom were injured and hospitalized and are in custody. Authorities seized 25 rifles, two pistols and nine motorcycles.
Operation Containment, which aims to arrest criminal leaders in Rio de Janeiro and other states, and combat the expansion of the Red Commandmobilized around 2,500 agents, who clashed with the alleged criminals, with the aim of complying 100 arrest warrants and 150 search warrants and apprehension.
At least 45 schools closedfive clinics suspended services and 12 buses diverted their route due to the operation, according to the Brazilian press.
“I ask residents of the region to remain at home while the security forces operate”, appealed the governor.
The Red Command was created in 1979, in Rio de Janeiro prisonsand is today one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the world, alongside the PCC / First Capital Commandconsidered the largest Brazilian gang, which also uses prisons as recruitment grounds and already has .
