Inside Brazil’s deadliest police raid that shattered Rio’s drug empire

Rio de Janeiro woke to the sound of gunfire and smoke rising over its favelas, signaling the eruption of one of Brazil’s most intense police operations in history. What began as a routine response to gang activity quickly escalated into a full-scale assault targeting the Red Command, a deeply entrenched criminal network controlling key neighborhoods. Months of intelligence gathering, planning, and coordination allowed security forces to synchronize armored units, special-operations teams, and helicopter support across the dense urban terrain. The favelas’ maze-like streets, once a sanctuary for the gang, became a trap as elite police funneled combatants into exposed zones where they could be neutralized efficiently. Civilians were caught in the crossfire, reflecting the inherent dangers of militarized law enforcement in densely populated areas. Ultimately, the operation showcased Brazil’s shift toward strategic, high-intensity policing, using planning, technology, and terrain manipulation to dismantle a criminal network that had long resisted state authority.

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