Deadliest Rio Police Raid Claims 28 Lives in Jacarezinho Favela

Operation in Jacarezinho Favela

On May 6, 2021, a large-scale police operation in the Jacarezinho favela, located in the northern zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, led to the deaths of 28 individuals. This event marked the deadliest police raid in the history of Rio de Janeiro. The operation involved approximately 200 officers from the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro State, utilizing armored vehicles and helicopters.

The primary objective of the raid was to dismantle a criminal network, specifically the Comando Vermelho (Red Command) gang, which authorities accused of recruiting children and teenagers for drug trafficking and other criminal activities. During the intense confrontation, one police officer, André Leonardo de Mello Frias, was killed, and two other officers were wounded. Additionally, two passengers on a nearby metro train were injured by stray bullets.

Controversy and Human Rights Concerns

The operation drew significant criticism due to its high death toll and the context in which it occurred. It took place despite a Supreme Court order issued in June 2020 that restricted police operations in Rio's favelas during the COVID-19 pandemic. This ruling mandated that such incursions should only occur under 'absolutely exceptional' circumstances and require prior notification to the Public Prosecutor's Office. Reports indicate that police informed the Attorney General's Office approximately three hours after the raid had commenced.

Human rights organizations and residents raised serious concerns, alleging possible extrajudicial executions and tampering with crime scenes. Residents reported seeing bloodied bodies in alleyways and inside homes, with one account describing a man being killed in an 8-year-old girl's bedroom. Despite these allegations, police officials maintained that the operation was 'legitimate from beginning to end' and that the deceased were 'criminals, drug dealers, and killers because they tried to kill police officers.'

Aftermath and Investigations

Following the raid, approximately 50 Jacarezinho residents marched in protest, demanding 'justice' and calling for thorough investigations. Human Rights Watch called upon the public prosecutor to immediately investigate possible police abuses. Rio de Janeiro Governor Claudio Castro defended the operation, stating it was the result of 'detailed intelligence work and investigation that lasted ten months.'

The incident highlighted ongoing debates in Brazil regarding police tactics in favelas and the effectiveness of the country's 'war on drugs.' The high number of fatalities reignited calls for greater accountability and a reevaluation of security policies in marginalized communities.