A mega-operation by the Civil and Military Police in the Penha and Alemão complexes, in Rio’s North Zone, began this Tuesday, the 28th. The objective of the action is to serve arrest warrants against members of the Comando Vermelho (CV). Named “Zona de Guerra,” the area was the scene of 135 confirmed deaths and the government confirmed that 4 of them are police officers, 2 military and 2 civil.
Images and videos show smoke and tracer fire; residents reported fear and panic. In one of the reports, police confirmed that criminals used drones to launch grenades during the confrontations, in addition to exploding buses that were used as barricades to hinder circulation. The operation became a topic in Brasília: Congress leaders defended legislative involvement in public security, while Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski rebutted criticisms and mentioned federal support.
The Comando Vermelho is one of Brazil’s oldest and most influential criminal factions. It emerged in the late 1970s within Rio de Janeiro’s prison system, from the coexistence between common prisoners and political prisoners during the military dictatorship. Today, the Comando Vermelho is a network of factions present in several Brazilian states and with international connections, mainly in drug trafficking. In this case, the main target of the mission is the CV boss and leader, known as Doca or Urso, 55 years old.
In 1992, the Carandiru massacre drew international attention when 111 inmates were murdered during a Military Police (PMSP) intervention to contain a rebellion at the São Paulo House of Detention. Until then, the slaughter in São Paulo’s north zone was considered by human rights organizations the deadliest police action in Brazilian history. As a result, in 2024, the São Paulo Court of Justice annulled all sentences of the 74 military police officers convicted for the execution of 77 inmates during the massacre.
EDUARDA DE NADAI GENERATO
Jornalista