Brazilian Police Kill More Than In Massive Rio Raids Targeting Largest Criminal Organization

Drug raids in Rio de Janeiro sparked massive shootouts that left more than 100 people dead, including four police officers.

CBS News reported that more than 2,500 Brazilian police and soldiers participated in the Tuesday raids that targeted local drug-trafficking gangs. Original estimates put the death toll at around 60, but that quickly rose to 132.

"Today Rio de Janeiro woke up in mourning. Four brave police officers were killed by narcoterrorists during Operation Containment, on a historic day of confrontation against organized crime," Rio state Governor Cláudio Castro wrote on X.

Castro described the raid as the largest law enforcement operation in Rio's history. He said that there were at least 81 arrests.

The operation's goal was to combat the territorial expansion of the Comando Vermelho and to capture criminal leadership from Rio de Janeiro and other states, Castro reposted on X. As part of the raids, law enforcement used drones, two helicopters, 32 armored land vehicles, and 12 demolition vehicles.

CBS News reported that authorities said that 93 rifles and more than half a ton of drugs were seized in the raids. The network also reported that authorities said that one-way gangs fought back was with bomb dropping drones.

Human rights groups raised questions regarding the level of violence used in the raids.

CBS News reported that the United Nations' human rights body was "horrified" by the death toll and called for investigations. The network reported that César Muñoz, director of Human Rights Watch in Brazil, said the raids were "a huge tragedy" and a "disaster."