No fewer than 45 fatalities have been reported in the wake of police operations against drug gangs in three different states in Brazil.
The Complexo da Penha area in Rio de Janeiro witnessed a shoot-out during the most recent operation, where the police returned fire, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 individuals.
Prior to this, clashes during a five-day police raid in São Paulo state, known as Operation Shield, resulted in the deaths of 16 people.
Since Friday, a total of 19 suspects have been killed in the north-eastern state of Bahia, according to official statements.
The operation in São Paulo state, launched after the fatal shooting of a special forces police officer in Guarujá on Thursday, resulted in the apprehension of 58 people.
According to local media, the police confiscated 385kg of narcotics and also seized guns during the operation.
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Criticizing the operation in Guarujá, Justice Minister Flavio Dino argued that the police’s reaction did not align proportionally with the severity of the crime.
São Paulo state governor Tarcisio de Freitas revealed during an interview on Tuesday that two police officers were among the casualties in the clashes.
The Guarujá police raid was criticized by Amnesty International for displaying ‘clear signs of seeking vengeance for the death of a police officer.’
On Wednesday, in Rio de Janeiro, local media reports state that a drug trafficking kingpin and a trafficker were among the 10 people who were killed.
In addition to the casualties, four individuals, including a police officer, were injured in the incident.
Based on intelligence reports indicating a gathering of drug traffic ringleaders, the city’s military police launched the operation in Complexo da Penha, a group of favelas located in the north of the city.
According to eyewitness accounts reported by local media, multiple gunshots and clashes erupted between heavily armed gang members and the police.
In response to the operation, Talíria Petrone, a member of the Rio state legislature, voiced strong disapproval and stressed that there is no valid reason for the state to continue imposing such a nightmarish existence on favela residents.