Security forces in Rio de Janeiro launched a mega-operation this Tuesday (28) in the Alemão and Penha complexes, in the North Zone, aiming to contain the expansion of Comando Vermelho. The action resulted in 60 deaths, including four police officers, and 81 arrests, becoming the deadliest in the state’s history. Around 2,500 agents participated in fulfilling 100 arrest warrants and 150 search and seizure warrants.
Intense clashes occurred from dawn, with traffickers reacting with gunfire and setting up barricades with burned vehicles. Governor Cláudio Castro classified the initiative as the largest ever carried out in Rio, part of the permanent Containment Operation against the faction. Three civilians were injured by stray bullets and received medical care.
The operation covered 26 communities, home to approximately 280,000 residents, and mobilized resources such as drones, helicopters, and armored vehicles. Criminals used advanced tactics, including drones to launch explosives against police teams.
- 56 suspects killed in shootouts;
- 4 police fatalities: two civilians and two from Bope;
- 81 detained, including regional CV leaders;
- 75 rifles and nine motorcycles seized.
Start of armed confrontations
Civil and Military Police agents entered the communities around 5 a.m., facing immediate resistance. Hundreds of shots were recorded in minutes, according to released videos. Barricades with debris and buses blocked main accesses, forcing the use of demolition vehicles.
The Rio Operations Center raised the alert stage to level 2, coordinating affected traffic. Traffickers fled in formation through the upper parts of the favelas, complicating the siege. The action lasted all day, focusing on dense forest areas.
Deaths among police and civilians
Two civil police officers identified as Marcus Vinícius Cardoso de Carvalho, 51, and Rodrigo Velloso Cabral, 34, were hit early on. Bope agents Cleiton Searafim Gonçalves and Herbert also succumbed to injuries. Seven other officers were shot and rescued.
Among civilians, a homeless man was shot in the back and hospitalized. A woman injured in a nearby gym was quickly discharged after treatment. Another man, in a scrapyard, received on-site care.
Dead suspects included two from Bahia and one from Espírito Santo, according to prior investigations. Teams prioritized preserving innocent lives during advances.
Seizures of weapons and vehicles
Police collected 75 high-caliber rifles during home searches. Two pistols and ammunition were confiscated in hideouts. Nine motorcycles used for quick escapes were seized on adjacent streets.
Criminal drones launched grenades at police positions but caused no additional casualties. Homemade explosives were disarmed by specialists. Logistics included 32 armored vehicles for team protection.
Burned vehicles served as obstacles but were removed to restore mobility. The operation mapped trafficking routes with a year of intelligence investigations.
Arrests of Comando Vermelho leaders
Thiago do Nascimento Mendes, known as Belão do Quitungo, was captured in a hideout in Penha. He commanded regional faction actions, including drug distribution. Nicolas Fernandes Soares, financial operator linked to Edgar Alves de Andrade, known as Doca, was arrested in the search network.
Another 79 detained include drug point managers and lookouts. The arrests aimed to dismantle the CV’s hierarchical structure in the complexes. Public Prosecutor’s Office prosecutors monitored the actions to ensure legality.
Effects on urban mobility
Blockades on roads like Linha Amarela, Avenida Brasil, and Grajaú-Jacarepaguá occurred in retaliation. Buses were used as barricades in Anchieta, Méier, and Cidade de Deus. Rio Ônibus rerouted 12 lines for passenger safety.
Schools and health posts closed in affected areas, impacting 45 educational units. Commerce suspended activities, and the metro operated with restrictions. The Military Police redirected all personnel to preventive patrols.
Residents reported displacement difficulties, with the Operations Center monitoring flow. The operation covered 9 million square meters of conflict territory.
Logistics and operation planning
The Public Security Secretary, Victor Santos, detailed the use of intelligence to identify priority targets. Agents mapped 180 addresses based on a year’s data. The initiative had no federal support, despite denied requests.
Resources included two helicopters for overflights and ambulances for quick rescues. Planning aimed to minimize civilian risks, with coordinated evacuations. Subsequent stages are scheduled against faction remnants.
The action integrated units like Core and COE, focusing on territorial containment. Santos emphasized the need for coordination between state, Union, and municipality for future actions.
Criminal resistance strategies
Traffickers monitored police movements with thermal cameras installed on hills. Escapes in single file through high vegetation were recorded in videos. Flaming barricades delayed advances for hours.
Use of adapted drones for bombings represented tactical innovation. Explosives were launched at armored vehicles, forcing defensive maneuvers. Resistance concentrated on elevated points for geographical advantage.
Rival groups were alerted to avoid infiltrations. The faction coordinated retaliations in peripheral neighborhoods, expanding urban chaos.
Advances in prior intelligence
Investigations by the Drug Enforcement Police identified 21 key leaders. Digital maps traced escape routes and weapon depots. Collaboration with the Public Prosecutor’s Office validated warrants.
Telephone interception data revealed expansion plans to other states. The operation integrated analysis of trafficking patterns over the past 12 months. Behavioral analysis teams predicted armed reactions.
Focus on financial leaders destabilized the faction’s resource flow. Bank transaction records supported arrests. Intelligence remains active for subsequent phases.
The mega-operation in the Alemão and Penha complexes marked a decisive chapter in combating Comando Vermelho, with numbers surpassing previous state actions. Security forces met initial objectives despite prolonged clashes. The final balance will be updated as investigations continue, emphasizing restoration of public order in affected communities.
