New details emerging from Brazil's deadliest police operation have cast doubt on whether the raid truly struck a blow against one of the country's most powerful criminal gangs. On October 28, 2025, 121 individuals, including four police officers, were killed during the operation in Rio de Janeiro.
The governor of Rio de Janeiro state, Claudio Castro, labeled the operation a success after posting photos of more than 100 seized rifles. However, human rights groups have criticized the security forces for the high death toll and have termed the raid's tactics as brutal.
This police operation, the largest in Rio's history, involved 2,500 officers targeting the Comando Vermelho gang, which controls vast expanses of territory.
Despite the massive deployment, it was reported that none of the 68 suspected gang leaders targeted were among the deceased. Local media highlighted that the gang's leader, Edgar Alves de Andrade, known as Doca, remained at large.
By that metric, it is fair to say the operation failed, commented Carlos Schmidt-Padilla, a public policy professor at UC Berkeley, as residents note little change in the gang's stronghold since the operation.
In stark contrast to official narratives, residents report seeing armed gang members almost immediately after the raid, underscoring the gang's unyielding grip over everyday life in the favelas. The Comando Vermelho exercises control not only over drug trafficking but also monopolizes essential services such as gas and transport, regulating all aspects of life within their territory.
Harsh punishments are meted out for transgressions, with reports indicating severe consequences for perceived violations of gang rules. The recent police operation, while generating headlines, has done little to diminish the fear instilled by the Comando Vermelho among locals, with both the governor and President Lula addressing the incident amidst growing outrage and calls for accountability.
