Скачать или смотреть Chaos in Rio de Janeiro: Operation Against Comando Vermelho Causes Citywide Blockages

A massive police operation targeting the criminal organization Comando Vermelho (CV) in Rio de Janeiro has triggered a crisis in security, mobility, and public order across the city. More than 2,500 officers deployed in the Penha and Alemão complexes faced armed resistance, resulting in a tragic toll of at least 64 to over 130 deaths and widespread road blockages and chaos.

Operation Details
The operation, described by authorities as “the largest in the city’s history,” targeted Comando Vermelho, considered the second-largest criminal structure in Brazil. The deployment included helicopters, armored vehicles, and thousands of personnel entering two of Rio’s densest and most conflict-prone favelas: Penha and Complexo do Alemão.

The confrontations were intense, featuring burning barricades, drones used by criminals to deploy explosives, and prolonged gunfights. Initial reports indicated at least 60 suspects and 4 police officers killed, with later figures rising to 132 when including bodies found in nearby wooded areas.

Blockages and Urban Paralysis
The CV’s response included disrupting public transportation and implementing strategic roadblocks, marking one of the most visible episodes of violence in the city. More than 70 buses were hijacked to block main routes. Schools closed, university classes were suspended, and entire neighborhoods fell under temporary criminal control before intervention.

Human Impact and Institutional Response
The state governor, Cláudio Castro, described the operation as a declared war against “narco-terrorism” and criticized the federal government for insufficient support. Meanwhile, international organizations, including Human Rights Watch and the United Nations Human Rights Office, have called for investigations into the high death toll and raised concerns over possible extrajudicial killings during the operation.

Republican Perspective: Order, Security, and Geopolitical Consequences
From a conservative standpoint, actions like this demonstrate the need for states to act decisively against organized crime. The expansion of Comando Vermelho and its ability to paralyze an entire city highlight that security cannot rely solely on progressive narratives of rights and rehabilitation. Strict enforcement of the rule of law, strengthened policing, and federal cooperation are essential, especially when criminal groups adopt urban warfare tactics.

The operation also underscores the risk that drug trafficking networks may consolidate autonomous control zones if governments fail to act decisively. This has implications beyond Brazil: weakening any state in the region opens doors to transnational crime and agendas that undermine freedom and stability, values that Republicans see as fundamental to maintaining Western order.

Conclusion
The Rio de Janeiro episode should not be viewed merely as a confrontation between police and criminals but as a warning of what happens when organized crime reaches levels of power that challenge the state’s monopoly on violence. For those who value security, liberty, and prosperity, this case serves as a reminder that without institutional firmness, operational intelligence, and national collaboration, society pays the price: deaths, chaos, and loss of control. Brazilian authorities now have the opportunity not only to punish but to reform the system that allowed a group like Comando Vermelho to become so dominant.