Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio da Silva vehemently rejected the United States’ designation of the First Capital Command (PCC) and the Red Command as foreign terrorist organizations, asserting that Brazil will not be treated as a “tinpot country” and that national sovereignty is non-negotiable. This move is perceived as a political boon for presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, who met with US officials during his visit. Brazil already actively combats these groups, which have grown from prison origins to become major Latin American criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking. While international cooperation is welcomed, arbitrary measures imposed from abroad that attack Brazil’s sovereignty and economy are unacceptable.
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The death toll from a Rio de Janeiro police raid in the favelas of Alemão and Penha has risen to at least 132, according to the public defender’s office, though the official figure is still being determined. The raid, which was the deadliest in the city’s history, involved extensive gunfire and the use of drones by both police and alleged gang members of the Red Command. Authorities, including Brazil’s President and the United Nations Human Rights office, have expressed shock and concern over the high number of fatalities, which occurred in a region known for gang activity and drug-related violence. The operation, which involved the arrest of key gang members, took place amid the backdrop of the upcoming C40 World Mayors Summit and Earthshot Prize events in the city.
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In Rio de Janeiro, a massive police raid targeting the Red Command gang resulted in at least 64 fatalities, making it the city’s deadliest single-day operation. The raid, involving over 2,500 officers, focused on favelas near the airport, sparking intense gun battles and the alleged use of weaponized drones by the criminals. Authorities declared the city “at war” as they sought to arrest Red Command leaders, seizing numerous automatic rifles. The operation has drawn criticism from human rights activists and community leaders, who argue such actions exacerbate the cycle of violence and fail to address the root causes of the crime.
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John Q. Hosedrinker