Brazil: Huge Police Operations in Rio de Janeiro

Recent mega police operations in the Penha and Complexo do Alemão regions of Rio de Janeiro have brought terror to the residents. Supposedly aimed at key drug trafficking leaders, these operations have instead resulted in significant casualties, including injuries to civilians and the disruption of essential services.

On Tuesday, a large-scale operation commenced in the Complexo da Penha, involving approximately 900 agents from both civil and military police, as well as reinforcements from other states. The operation was heavily supported by armored vehicles, helicopters, and drones, with elite police units such as Bope (Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais: Special Police Operations Battalion; an elite unit of the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro), Core (Coordenadoria de Recursos Especiais: Special Resources Coordination; a specialized unit of the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro), and Gaeco (Grupo de Atuação Especial de Combate ao Crime Organizado: Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime; a task force within the Public Ministry) participating.

The following day, gunfire erupted in Ramos as police continued their efforts, leading to chaos in the streets. Reports indicate that a house was set ablaze during the operation, which resulted in four residents being shot, including one, Ágatha Alves, who is in serious condition. The operations also caused significant disruptions, with eight bus lines diverted, 17 schools closed, six BRT stations shut down, and three Family Clinics non-operational.

The Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro has announced that this operation is just the beginning of a series of planned actions in the northern zone of the capital, raising concerns about the ongoing cycle of violence and its impact on the masses.