How Organised Crime Took Over Areas of Rio de Janeiro
Robert Muggah, an expert on organised crime in Brazil, explains the rise of the Commando Vermelho gang, the group targeted in a deadly police raid in Rio de Janeiro at the end of October.
Deadly Raid in Rio's Favelas
At dawn on October 28, Rio residents were awakened by intense gunfire. Clashes lasted throughout the day in the favelas of Alemão and Penha, where police launched a large-scale operation against the Commando Vermelho (Red Command), one of Brazil’s biggest organized criminal gangs.
Casualties and Public Reaction
In the aftermath, disturbing images showed rows of bodies in the streets. At least 115 civilians and four police officers died, marking this the most violent police operation in Brazilian history.
A poll conducted two days after the raid revealed that 62% of Rio residents backed the police action, with support rising to 88% among favela populations. However, protests emerged against alleged extrajudicial killings, drawing condemnation from the UN and human rights groups.
Political Response
The violent crackdown coincided with the start of the Cop30 climate summit in Belém, near the Amazon. Upon his arrival, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was not informed about the operation in advance, denounced the raid as “disastrous” and a “mass killing”.
“Disastrous” and a “mass killing” – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the police raid.
Author’s summary: The brutal police raid against Rio's Commando Vermelho gang illustrates how violence only deepens the crisis in areas controlled by organised crime, sparking both support and sharp criticism.