In what has been described as the deadliest police operation in Brazil’s history, at least 132 people were killed during a large-scale raid in Rio de Janeiro. The operation, which targeted the Comando Vermelho drug gang, was meticulously planned over two months and aimed to corner suspects in a forested hillside where a special police unit lay in wait. The aftermath saw residents of the Penha neighborhood lining the streets with dozens of corpses recovered from the surrounding area. Among the dead were four police officers, while 113 suspects were arrested, and 118 firearms were seized. Rio Governor Claudio Castro defended the operation, stating that those killed were criminals engaged in gunfire from the forest. However, the high death toll has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups and the United Nations, which called for a prompt and effective investigation into the incident. The federal government, led by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was reportedly caught off guard by the operation, with Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski expressing concerns over the lack of prior notification. The incident has reignited debates over police violence in Brazil’s marginalized communities, particularly as Rio prepares to host global climate events next week.