Brazil's Rio police launched a massive blackmail operation on October 28, mobilizing 2,500 military policemen, using armoured vehicles, helicopters and drones, focusing on fighting the criminal organization "Red Army Command". More than 120 people have been killed, including four policemen.

The Red Army Command is the oldest and most influential criminal organization in Brazil.The Rio de Janeiro prison founded in the 1970s, Mainly engaged in drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, extortion and money launderingHalf of Rio¡¯s slums are controlled by the organization, whichins ¡°territory¡± control through militants and fights fiercely with hostile gangs, and the expansion of the Red Army Command has gone beyond Rio, infiltrating into the north of Brazil and abroad.

In order to curb the expansion and violence of the "Red Army Command", Rio Governor Castro made a year's preparation. On the morning of October 28th, he launched a "containment operation" and entered the "heart area" of his slums to clear them up.

The operation was led by the Rio State Police. The state police had communicated with the federal police, expecting the federal side to join in the clean-up, but the federal police refused, arguing that the action was "too risky and unreasonable".

The state mobilized more than 2,500 special police officers with helicopters, armored vehicles and drones to attack the entrance to the pit in the early morning of October 28, blocking roads and entrances.The Red Army Command. AK-47s and grenades were used to counterattack, burning vehicles and blocking streets, causing traffic to be paralyzed.From October 29 to 30, the operation was extended to surrounding areas, and police used drones to reconnoiter.

Currently , The government of Rio has 117 to 119 suspects killed, four police officers killed, and 81 arrested, including some middle-level heads of the Red Army command.97 guns, 38 grenades, half a ton of drugs and 30 stolen cars were seized, and local residents more than 200 deaths, including civilians. Residents placed multiple bodies on the street for family members to identify themselves. The scene was very shocking.

At present, the north of Rio is in chaos, schools are shut down, hospitals are overloaded and the Red Army Command threatens retaliation, and Argentina strengthens border security to prevent the conflict from spreading to the country.

Brazil¡¯s President Lula has supported fighting the gang, but stressed protecting the innocent and criticizing ¡°killing without distinction,¡± while Rio¡¯s governor, Castro, has accused the federation of ¡°abandoning Rio¡±.

Some media believe that this action is a turning point in Brazil's anti-drug war, but warn that if investment in education and employment is not increased, the "Red Army Command" will be regenerated.

source| Yangzi Evening News/Ziniu News reporter Song Shifeng