A massive police operation in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro has resulted in the deaths of at least 60 individuals, including four police officers, marking it as the deadliest police action in the city’s history. The operation, part of “Operation Containment,” targeted drug trafficking and organized crime, particularly focusing on the notorious criminal organization Comando Vermelho (Red Command). Governor Claudio Castro announced that 60 alleged criminals were “neutralized” during the raid, which also led to the execution of over 250 arrest and search warrants, the detention of 81 individuals, and the seizure of weapons. Approximately 2,500 officers, including armored vehicles and helicopters, participated in the operation, which concentrated on the densely populated and impoverished Alemao and Penha favela complexes. Intense gunfire erupted during the raid, causing casualties among bystanders and forcing road closures. Comando Vermelho, a major player in global cocaine trade with ties to Colombian cartels, has significant influence in Rio’s poor neighborhoods. Brazil ranks second globally in cocaine consumption, with over 180,000 incidents related to cocaine trafficking recorded in 2023. The raid has sparked outrage among residents, with reports of bodies left uncollected on a hillside. The timing of the operation, ahead of major international events like the C40 World Mayors Summit and the Earthshot Prize, has raised concerns among human rights organizations. With Brazil’s 2026 national elections approaching, crime and drug trafficking are expected to be key issues, as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva faces criticism from the right-wing opposition.