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At least 10 people were killed and three others wounded during a police operation in a Rio de Janeiro favela targeting alleged members of a criminal organization. The operation took place in Vila Cruzeiro, part of the Complexo da Penha, a dangerous set of favelas controlled by drug trafficking groups. Nine of the dead were members of the Red Command who resisted police. The operation was conducted after intelligence indicated that Red Command leaders were meeting to plan the invasion of rival gang-controlled slums. La Prensa Latina Media reported
In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a police operation in a favela resulted in the death of at least 10 individuals, with three others sustaining injuries. The targeted individuals were believed to be associated with one of Brazil’s largest criminal organizations. Among the wounded was a police officer. The operation, which lasted several hours, involved a fierce shootout and took place in Vila Cruzeiro, a dangerous area within the Complexo da Penha, a collection of favelas controlled by drug trafficking groups. Authorities reported that nine of the deceased were members of the Comando Vermelho (Red Command) who resisted arrest, and a significant amount of weaponry was confiscated. Carlos Alberto Marques Toledo, identified as the leader of the drug trade in the Chatuba favela, was among the casualties. The operation was initiated based on intelligence indicating that Red Command leaders were meeting in Vila Cruzeiro to plan the invasion and takeover of territories controlled by rival gangs. The operation involved the participation of elite police forces, including the Special Operations Battalion (BOPE) and the Special Resources Coordination (Core). Helicopters, armored vehicles, and a mechanical shovel were utilized to support the operation. Videos recorded by residents of the favela depict the intense gunfight that took place in the neighborhood. Some of these videos allege police misconduct and indiscriminate shooting by law enforcement officers. This incident adds to the growing concerns over police violence in Brazil, following a recent operation by the São Paulo Military Police elite corps that resulted in the deaths of at least 14 individuals in Guarujá. Various human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have called for independent and thorough investigations into these incidents, although São Paulo’s governor has defended the operation and denied allegations of police abuse..
