Brazil: at least 25 dead in drug operation in Rio
Police operation against drug traffickers in the Jacarezinho favela in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 6, 2021. AFP - MAURO PIMENTEL
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
At least 25 people, including a police officer, were killed Thursday (May 6) in a massive drug operation in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian media reported.
Publicity
Read more
The operation was carried out early Thursday against drug traffickers accused of recruiting minors in the poor neighborhood of Jacarezinho, in northern Rio, the G1 news site reported, citing police.
GloboNews
television
broadcast footage showing armed people fleeing through the favela during the police operation.
Residents also posted videos on social media showing explosions, firefights and helicopters flying over the area.
Large numbers of police were seen circulating in the favela, as frightened residents tried to resume their occupations after the shooting ended, AFP correspondents noted.
The Jacarezinho neighborhood is considered a base for Comando Vermelho, the largest drug trafficking gang in Rio de Janeiro.
Wounded in crossfire
At least two people were also injured while traveling in the skytrain, caught in crossfire, according to media which showed images of two victims receiving treatment on the platform of Triagem station.
According to the digital platform Fogo cruzado (Crossfire) which lists acts of violence in Rio de Janeiro, this is the heaviest toll for an operation of this kind since 2016, when the census began.
The operation took place despite a Supreme Court ruling prohibiting police from carrying out raids in impoverished Brazil's favelas during the coronavirus pandemic, except in "
absolutely exceptional circumstances
".
(With
AFP
)
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Brazil