Smoke and flames rose over the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro earlier today as Brazil launched its largest-ever police operation, deploying more than 2,500 officers and soldiers—supported by helicopters, armored vehicles, and drones—against Comando Vermelho, a powerful criminal organization involved in drug and arms trafficking, irregular warfare, and narco-terrorism across Rio.
Authorities reported at least 64 people killed in the operation, including four police officers, with 81 suspects arrested and 93 rifles seized alongside more than half a ton of drugs. Ten of those detained are said to be gang leaders who will be transferred to federal prisons. According to the Governor of Rio de Janeiro, the operation successfully achieved its main objective: halting Comando Vermelho’s territorial expansion.
Today’s raid is widely seen as part of the Brazilian government’s effort to “clean up” Rio de Janeiro ahead of next week’s C40 World Mayors Summit 2025, scheduled for November 3–5. The summit will bring together mayors from nearly 100 cities, along with business leaders, philanthropists, investors, academics, and civil society representatives, and will be co-hosted by London Mayor and C40 Co-Chair Sadiq Khan and Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes.
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