Today, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, awoke under the shadow of an unprecedented tragedy. The massive police operation carried out this week across the favela complexes of Complexo do Alemão and Complexo da Penha has already left more than 130 people dead, according to updated figures following the discovery of dozens of bodies in a wooded area near Vila Cruzeiro.
The operation involved around 2,500 state and federal officers in Brazil, aiming to dismantle the powerful criminal organization Comando Vermelho. However, the scale of the violence has sparked outrage both within and beyond the South American country. Helicopters, armored vehicles, and drones took part in an operation marked by intense shootouts and scenes described as “a war zone.”
So far, authorities have confirmed 81 arrests and the seizure of more than 90 rifles, though growing concerns remain over possible extrajudicial executions and disappearances.
Is this the inevitable price to pay in the fight against organized crime?
Not necessarily. While the operation dealt a heavy blow to criminal factions, experts and human rights organizations warn that the excessive use of force undermines public trust in institutions and leaves a deep wound in the country’s most vulnerable communities.
