Brazilian police launched a massive crackdown on one of Brazil's largest drug trafficking groups, the "Red Command", in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, local time.The police that at least 56 suspects were killed in a massive crackdown that began early that morning, 81 people were arrested and four police officers were killed.
The report said that the police launched operations against the gang's "Red Command" in the communities of Alemão and Peña in Rio City, dispatching multiple helicopters and armored vehicles. Gangsters used incendiary materials to build barricades in the community, gunshots kept ringing, and criminals also used drones to throw bombs at police. Two regional leaders of the "Red Command" were captured. Police also seized 31 rifles, 2 pistols and 9 motorcycles.
According to the confirmation of the state government of Rio de Janeiro, this is the deadliest operation in the history of the state. Governor Claudio Castro said, "We will not back down. We will unswervingly use strategy and technology to combat drug terrorism."
The Aleman and Penya communities have long been an area of drug widespread trafficking and illicit weapons trafficking, as well as one of the main bases of the Red Command, posing a serious threat to the security situation in Rio and even across Brazil.