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RIO – At least 60 suspects and 4 police officers died this Tuesday, 28, during a mega-operation in Rio de Janeiro in the Alemão and Penha complexes against the Comando Vermelho (CV) . The faction reacted and launched bombs using drones, which turned the region into a war zone, with repercussions on important roads in the city, such as Avenida Brasil and Linha Amarela. The operation was the deadliest in the history of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
In total, approximately 2,500 civil and military police officers participated in the offensive. In Alemão and Penha, 48 schools were affected. In addition to the climate of fear in the favelas, there were attempts to block Avenida Brasil and interfere with the Linha Amarela highway, another major thoroughfare in the city.
In the afternoon, Governor Cláudio Castro (PL)
The action, which repeats scenes of war , exposes the growing power of organized crime in the country and the difficulties of the public authorities in repressing drug trafficking, with violent effects for the residents of poor communities.
"We are on alert and alert for possible retaliation. All police are on the streets, and all battalions are on standby," Castro stated.
The Rio de Janeiro state government claims it requested federal assistance in a previous operation against CV, but was denied. The ministry has not yet responded to a request for comment.
"There are approximately 9 million square meters of disorder. Houses built irregularly, alleys that are impossible to patrol," said Victor Santos, Rio's Secretary of Public Security.
"This poses a greater risk to the public and, obviously, to the police. These criminals have taken over this region. Today, for example, they used drones to launch explosive devices at the police and the public. This is the reality, this state of war we live in Rio de Janeiro," he continued.
The action, which also has the support of prosecutors from the State Public Ministry, was launched after more than a year of investigation and search and seizure and arrest warrants obtained by the Narcotics Repression Department (DRE).
Military police officers from the Special Operations Command and operational units of the Military Police in the capital and metropolitan region participate in the operations.
The Civil Police mobilized agents from all specialized and district police stations, the Core, the Department for Combating Money Laundering and the Sub-Secretariat of Intelligence.
Operation Containment is reinforced with advanced technology, including drones, two helicopters, 32 armored ground vehicles, 12 demolition vehicles from the PM's Special Operations Support Unit, and rescue ambulances.
