State authorities in Rio de Janeiro say they seized 120 weapons, including 93 rifles worth about R$12.8 million (~$2.4m), during a major anti-drug operation targeting the Comando Vermelho gang. The raid across two favelas left at least 117 suspected criminals and four police officers dead. Officials reported finding ammunition, explosives and military equipment — some traced to foreign sources — and pledged to investigate trafficking routes. Human rights groups and the UN have called for independent probes amid allegations of summary executions, while opinion polls show broad public support for the operation.
Brazil’s Deadliest Rio Drug Raid: 120 Military-Grade Weapons Seized, 121 Dead
State authorities in Rio de Janeiro say they seized 120 weapons, including 93 rifles worth about R$12.8 million (~$2.4m), during a major anti-drug operation targeting the Comando Vermelho gang. The raid across two favelas left at least 117 suspected criminals and four police officers dead. Officials reported finding ammunition, explosives and military equipment — some traced to foreign sources — and pledged to investigate trafficking routes. Human rights groups and the UN have called for independent probes amid allegations of summary executions, while opinion polls show broad public support for the operation.
13:07, 02.11.2025Security
Brazil’s deadliest police operation in Rio seizes R$12.8m in weapons
State officials say a large-scale anti-drug operation in Rio de Janeiro recovered 120 weapons — including 93 rifles — valued at about 12.8 million reais (roughly $2.4 million). The operation, conducted across two favela complexes and aimed at the Comando Vermelho gang, left at least 117 suspected criminals and four police officers dead, according to the latest official tally.
Seizure details:
- 120 weapons recovered, including 93 rifles;
- Other items seized: ammunition, explosives, drugs and military equipment;
- Weapons reportedly include models used in conflict zones, such as the AK-47 and the FAL;
- Authorities say some rifles appear to belong to foreign militaries and that firearms originated from countries including Argentina, Belgium, Germany, Peru, Russia and Venezuela.
"We are looking at an arsenal typical of a war scenario," said Felipe Curi, Rio de Janeiro Civil Police Secretary.
Curi added that investigators will probe trafficking routes used to bring the weapons into Rio. Officials said the operation targeted Comando Vermelho, one of Brazil’s oldest and most influential criminal gangs, which controls large areas of the city.
The raid has prompted calls for independent scrutiny. Human rights organizations and the United Nations have urged investigations into the operation amid allegations from relatives that some victims were summarily executed. An AFP journalist on the scene reported seeing a decapitated body, a detail that authorities and rights groups say requires thorough, transparent inquiry.
Despite these concerns, public opinion polls indicated majority support for the operation. State Governor Cláudio Castro described the raid as a significant blow to what he called "narco-terrorism."
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — who has been criticized by opponents as lenient on crime — took a firmer public stance after the raid. On social media he condemned organized crime and reiterated support for tougher penalties. Mr. Lula has proposed a bill that would impose up to a 30-year prison term for members of criminal gangs and signed new measures intended to strengthen the fight against organized crime.
The events have intensified debate in Brazil over policing tactics, accountability and how best to dismantle heavily armed criminal networks. Authorities say investigations into the operation, the origins of the weapons and any alleged misconduct are ongoing.