Death toll rises to 121 in Rio de Janeiro police raid
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At least 121 people have died in a massive Rio de Janeiro police raid targeting the Red Command gang. Rights groups are calling for investigations into one of Brazil’s deadliest operations.
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Residents carry the body of a man killed during a police raid targeting the Comando Vermelho gang in the Complexo da Penha favela of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, October 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
The death toll from a large-scale Rio de Janeiro police raid targeting the Red Command drug gang has climbed to at least 121, Brazilian authorities confirmed on Thursday. The operation, which began on Tuesday in two of the city's Rio favelas, triggered intense clashes and is now one of the deadliest police actions in Brazil’s recent history.
Gunbattles broke out in the low-income neighborhoods of Complexo do Alemao and Penha, resulting in the deaths of at least four police officers and leaving an unknown number of people injured. Authorities increased the confirmed death toll from 119 to 121, while the Public Defender’s Office reported 130 deaths, citing its own investigation.
Brazil’s public defender’s office filed a request with the Supreme Court for access to forensic evidence related to the operation, particularly in cases involving police deaths.
“The bodies of these people will tell us what really happened, and for that, we need access to them,” said Rafaela Garcez, a public defender leading the inquiry.
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Police reported that the raid followed a yearlong investigation into the Red Command, a criminal organization that controls drug trafficking and other illicit activity in several communities. Originating in Rio's prison system, the group has expanded its influence in recent years.
During the operation, officers arrested 113 individuals, seized 118 firearms, and confiscated more than a tonne of drugs.
Human rights groups demand accountability
Human rights organizations have condemned the scale and intensity of the operation, calling for independent investigations. Critics labeled the action as one of the most violent state-led interventions in Brazil’s modern history, prompting public protests and calls for the resignation of Rio’s governor.
Community leaders in Penha gathered on Thursday to organize legal support for grieving families through the rights group CUFA. Many local businesses remained closed, and residents described the atmosphere as tense and sorrowful.
Daily life in the affected Rio favelas was severely disrupted. Schools and universities shut down, and buses were used as roadblocks amid the chaos. Residents reported scenes of fear and confusion as operations unfolded over multiple days.
Historical comparisons underscore the unprecedented nature of this week's events. In 2005, 29 people were killed in the Baixada Fluminense region, while in 2021, 28 died in a raid in Jacarezinho. But Tuesday’s action has eclipsed both in scope and casualties.
New law targets organized crime
On Thursday morning, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed new legislation aimed at reinforcing Brazil’s response to organized crime. The law criminalizes conspiracy and obstruction of justice related to criminal organizations, and extends protection to public officials and their families when under threat due to professional duties.
In parallel, Senate President Davi Alcolumbre announced that a special Senate committee will begin investigating the operations, financing, and territorial expansion of organized criminal groups in Brazil, beginning next week.
