RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – OCTOBER 28, 2025 State security forces made up of more than 2,500 police and military personnel carried out on October 28, 2025 what was probably the largest anti-gang operation in history. They targeted the notorious Comando Vermelho (CV) in the Complexo do Alemão and Complexo da Penha areas, where the gang had recently been dangerously consolidating its positions. Besides manpower, the operation involved helicopters, armored vehicles and drones.
According to official sources, the massive operation claimed 64 lives, including 4 police officers. Reports also speak of dozens injured to varying degrees and 81 arrested. These figures, however, differ across sources and may still increase.
Fallen police officers
During the operation police raided gang hideouts and managed to seize up to hundreds of kilograms of narcotics, as well as a huge number of weapons – mainly submachine guns and rifles – and large quantities of ammunition.
The unofficial face of this police operation became a certain Penelope – a gang member who previously posted provocative photos on her social media, most often posing semi-nude with a weapon in her hand. She became one of the victims when one of the police bullets hit her directly in the head.
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- Penelope 1
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- Penelope 2
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- Penelope 3
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- Her dead body
Comando Vermelho is one of the largest and oldest gangs in Brazil. Although it originated in prisons, it quickly expanded beyond their walls and gradually took control of the drug trade in many Rio favelas. In recent years CV has tried to expand into areas previously controlled by other gangs, causing sharp and bloody clashes and disrupting security in the country. Authorities said the aim of the operation was to disrupt the gang’s leadership and prevent further expansion.
The governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro, called the operation successful and said it was an integral part of the fight against “narcoterrorism.” Human rights organizations are demanding a proper investigation of the police actions and emphasize the huge risk of civilian victims during police operations in such densely populated areas. There are also voices saying that operations like this are not tactical but exterminatory, aimed at killing as many gang members as possible.
READ MORE:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/28/brazil-rio-at-war-police-drug-raids-favelas
https://apnews.com/article/brazil-police-operation-favelas-25d6122a15c261b9b1275a7b2f361393
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/10/28/rio-alemao-penha-brazil-police-raid/
//ADD INTO POST – OCTOBER 30, 2025: Thanks to unregistered user for adding 3 photos.
//ADD INTO POST – OCTOBER 30, 2025: Thanks to “NikolasFerreira” for adding a photo.
