Drug violence engulfed Rio de Janeiro today as authorities reported at least 64 killed in a sweeping operation targeting major drug-trafficking networks. The dramatic scenes of the drug raids unfolded early Tuesday in the sprawling favelas of Complexo do Alemão and Penha, where police and special forces launched one of the city’s largest anti-narcotics operations.
Operation planners said around 2,500 officers and soldiers stormed the neighbourhoods near the city’s airport. They faced fierce resistance from members of the Comando Vermelho gang, who erected barricades, set vehicles alight, and reportedly deployed drones to drop explosives on arriving forces.
Although the gang-combatant death toll dominates headlines, the operation also claimed the lives of four police officers, according to the state government. Several civilians are also confirmed dead, though their identities remain undisclosed as investigations continue.
Officials described the campaign as an escalation in the so-called “war on drugs” in Rio. The governor labelled the operation “narcoterrorism” and defended the use of force as necessary, while human-rights groups denounced the scale of violence and called for immediate investigations.
In parallel to this, recent reports show how drug-trafficking operations remain intertwined with broader illicit networks. For example, a case documented recently detailed Pakistani nationals arrested for selling drugs in Saudi Arabia’s Madina region, illustrating how cross-border drug channels span continents.
On the ground in Rio, public services were brought to a halt as gunfire echoed throughout the morning. Schools were forced to close, buses suspended routes and neighbourhoods locked down as the raid unfolded.
While the number 64 stands out, analysts warn the final count could rise as wounded are still being treated and arrests are ongoing. They argue that such large-scale, violent raids may bring short-term disruptions but fail to address the deeper roots of the drug trade, including impoverished communities, weak governance, and entrenched criminal networks.
