No less than 64 Dead in Rio's Biggest Law Enforcement Operation on Organized Crime
A minimum of 64 individuals were killed in a police operation cracking down on the criminal organization Comando Vermelho in the Brazilian city's northern districts - the biggest and most lethal operation in the Brazilian state's records.
Four police officers lost their lives during the police action in the AlemĂŁo and Penha districts, state officials reported. In excess of 80 people were arrested.
Intense confrontations commenced when about 2,500 law enforcement officers entered the area on Tuesday early hours. The criminal organization responded with armed resistance, igniting obstacles and dropping bombs from drones, officials stated.
The UN Human Rights Office expressed being "horrified" by the police operation, demanding "immediate and thorough inquiries".
Mission Consequences
The slum neighborhoods near the aerial transportation hub is seen as the headquarters of among the nation's strongest illegal networks.
Government representatives confirmed a minimum of 50 of the deceased were "indicated by police as suspected of being criminals".
Dozens of people were wounded, including non-combatants affected by the violence.
Local Reaction
Locals have described the elevated neighborhood - housing around 300,000 residents - to a "war zone" since the raid started.
Access ways continue shut in the entire neighborhood.
Organized Crime Spread
The criminal network have been expanding their control throughout the region, expanding narcotics distribution networks and control of the hillside favelas.
Security forces said more than 200kg (441lb) of drugs were seized in the raid, together with dozens of firearms.
Operation Background
The coordinated mission by civil and military police comes after a extended probe.
Many of the individuals are believed to be affiliates of a group from the Brazilian state who are at the moment taking refuge in the metropolitan area.
Broader Context
Large-scale police operations are not uncommon in Brazil ahead of significant global gatherings in the country.
The UN climate summit the environmental summit is set to occur in the city of Belem in the north in the eleventh month.
