Helen Barakat

🌐🇧🇷Situation in Rio de Janeiro: Escalation of conflict between police and drug cartels. Current events in Brazil that dramatically escalated on October 28, 2025. Rio de Janeiro is in chaos due to a massive police operation, Operação Contenção (Operation Occupy), directed against the Comando Vermelho (Red Command) cartel, one of the most powerful drug gangs in the country. Rio state governor Cláudio Castro has described the situation as a "war" and has deployed over 2,500 police officers, including elite BOPE units and armored vehicles. The operation is targeting favelas such as Complexo do Alemão and Penha, where the cartel controls drug trafficking and other criminal activities. At least 64-80 people died during the first hours of fighting, including 4 police officers and civilians (e.g. gunshot wounds in gyms or on the streets). The bloodiest day in the history of the fight against organized crime in Rio – surpassing the events of 2021 with 28 deaths. Official figures vary by source (e.g. GloboNews reports 60+, Reuters 64), but include arrests (56–81) and weapons seized (93 automatic rifles). Cartels responded by burning cars, barricading tires, and stealing buses on key roads (including Avenida Brasil leading to the airport). The northern part of the city is paralyzed – schools and clinics closed, residents trapped at home due to shootings and explosions. Residents describe panic, hiding from stray bullets. For the first time in the history of Brazilian gangs, members of the Comando Vermelho used FPV (first-person view) drones to drop explosives on police units and block off areas. This escalated the fight to the level of a modern armed conflict and raised fears of further reprisals. The operation, which took more than two months to prepare, is part of a broader crackdown on the expansion of the cartel, which controls up to 60% of Rio state (along with militias). Governor Castro has criticized President Lula's federal government for its lack of support and has called for the deployment of the army. The events come just before international events in Rio, such as the C40 Mayors Summit and the Earthshot Prize, which will increase security pressure.