At least 121 people were killed this week in Rio de Janeiro in what authorities have described as Brazil&rsquo;s deadliest police operation. 
The raids targeted the Comando Vermelho (CV), or Red Command ,one of the nation&rsquo;s oldest and most powerful criminal organizations, which dominates the drug trade in several cities.
The large-scale operation took place just days before the United Nations COP30 climate summit in northern Brazil, with Rio preparing to host the associated C40 global mayors&rsquo; meeting and the Earthshot Prize awards led by Britain&rsquo;s Prince William.
What Is the Comando Vermelho?
The Comando Vermelho is one of Brazil&rsquo;s most influential and long-standing criminal groups. 
It is deeply involved in drug and arms trafficking and has been responsible for decades of violent territorial battles with rival gangs.
While its power has fluctuated over time due to conflicts with other organizations, particularly the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), Brazil&rsquo;s largest crime syndicate based in S&atilde;o Paulo, the CV continues to play a central role in Rio&rsquo;s narcotics trade and remains synonymous with the city&rsquo;s underworld violence.
The Origins of the Gang
The Comando Vermelho traces its roots to the early 1970s, when political prisoners and common criminals were held together in a maximum-security prison in Rio de Janeiro during Brazil&rsquo;s military dictatorship.
The political prisoners introduced ideas of hierarchy, discipline, and solidarity, principles that became the backbone of the CV&rsquo;s organization. 
Originally formed to protect inmates, the gang soon began expanding its reach beyond prison walls, recruiting from other jails and establishing dominance across Rio&rsquo;s favelas.
Today, the CV controls large areas of Rio&rsquo;s periphery, overseeing drug sales and enforcing its own order through intimidation and violence. 
The group is also linked to extortion, robbery, and even the control of certain public utilities such as local internet services.
According to Insight Crime, the CV has an estimated 30,000 members.
Expansion and Influence
Over the years, the Comando Vermelho has extended its operations to other Brazilian states ,including Amazonas, Bahia, Goias, and Espirito Santo, in search of new drug and arms routes, especially through the Amazon region.
Authorities reported that CV leaders from several states were killed during this week&rsquo;s coordinated raids. 
A recent report by the Brazilian Public Security Forum highlighted a surge in violent crime in the Amazon, driven by conflicts between the CV and rival gangs over control of key smuggling corridors that connect South American cocaine producers to international markets.
Why Police Launched the Operation
According to state police, the large-scale raids had been under planning for more than two months. 
The operation was designed to flush gang members out of Rio&rsquo;s densely populated favelas and into a forested hillside, where a special forces unit was waiting in ambush.
Since 2022, the Comando Vermelho has regained control over several neighborhoods in Rio that had previously been taken by rival groups. 
In February, the CV briefly entered into a truce with the PCC, but the ceasefire collapsed within weeks.
The CV continues to battle the PCC for control of trafficking routes and prison territories. 
It also faces threats from paramilitary organizations composed of current and former law enforcement officers, as well as rival local gangs such as the Terceiro Comando (Third Command).

Armed police raid Rio favela amid crackdown

Over 120 killed in Rio as police crack down on Comando Vermelho, Brazil’s deadly drug gang

Brazil Raids Target Comando Vermelho Gang

Over 120 killed in Rio as police crack down on Comando Vermelho, Brazil’s deadly drug gang

November 1, 2025 | 17:34 IST