Rio de Janeiro: A large-scale police operation against organized crime in Rio de Janeiro has left at least 64 people dead in what authorities and rights groups are calling one of the deadliest crackdowns in the city’s history. The operation, which began early Monday in the northern favela complexes of Alemão and Penha, targeted members of the powerful Comando Vermelho (Red Command) gang.

More than 2,500 officers from civil and military police forces, supported by armored vehicles and helicopters, took part in the raid. Police said the operation was aimed at dismantling major drug networks responsible for violence, extortion, and arms trafficking across the city. Officials also confirmed that four police officers were among the dead, and over 80 people were arrested. A large number of weapons and drugs were seized during the operation.

The scale of violence has shocked residents and observers, with reports of gunfire lasting for hours and some neighborhoods effectively turning into battle zones. Buses were set on fire, barricades were erected, and some gangs reportedly deployed drones equipped with explosives in retaliation.

The Rio state government described the mission as the largest coordinated offensive ever launched against the Comando Vermelho. Authorities said the operation was necessary to restore order ahead of several major international events scheduled in Rio, including the C40 Mayors Summit and events related to the upcoming COP30 climate conference.

Human rights groups have condemned the high death toll and called for a full investigation into the conduct of security forces. They expressed concerns that many of the victims may have been civilians caught in the crossfire. Nearly 50 schools were closed and public transport services were disrupted as the violence spread across the northern districts.

Federal officials have indicated that no formal request for national-level assistance was made by the Rio state government before the raid, raising questions about coordination between local and federal authorities. Analysts warn that while such operations may weaken local criminal networks temporarily, they rarely address the deep-rooted social and economic factors that allow organized crime to thrive in Rio’s favelas.

As investigations continue, human rights organizations and community leaders are urging transparency over the number and identity of those killed. The government has vowed to continue efforts against what it has called “narcoterrorism,” but many fear that this operation could deepen mistrust between residents and law enforcement rather than bring lasting peace to the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods.