Brazilian police raid drug gang in 3 states, at least 45 people killed

In the latest operation in Rio de Janeiro on August 2, police said they returned fire in a shooting in the Complexo da Penha area, killing at least 10 people.

According to local media, a drug lord and a human trafficker were among the 10 people killed. Four others were injured, including a police officer.

Police said the operation in Rio de Janeiro's Complexo da Penha favela was launched after intelligence reports that a meeting of drug trafficking leaders would take place in the area.

Witnesses told local media they heard multiple gunshots and clashes between heavily armed gang members and police.

Cảnh sát Brazil bố ráp băng đảng ma túy ở 3 bang, ít nhất 45 người thiệt mạng - Ảnh 1.

At least 45 people were killed in police raids on drug gangs in three Brazilian states. Photo: AP

Talíria Petrone, a member of the Rio state legislature, condemned the move, saying there was no justifiable reason for the state to continue making life in the favelas such a hell.

Schools around Complexo da Penha closed on August 2, forcing about 3,220 students to stay home.

Instituto Fogo Cruzado, an organization that looks at data on armed violence in Brazil, said there have been 33 similar incidents in the city since the beginning of the year, killing 125 people.

Earlier, 16 people died in a five-day police raid in São Paulo state, dubbed Operation Shield.

The BBC reports that 58 people were arrested in the operation in São Paulo state, after a special police officer was killed on 27 July in the coastal town of Guarujá. According to local media, police seized 385kg of drugs as well as guns.

Cảnh sát Brazil bố ráp băng đảng ma túy ở 3 bang, ít nhất 45 người thiệt mạng - Ảnh 2.

Weapons confiscated by police during a raid on a drug gang in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Reuters

However, the incident in Guarujá has been criticized by Brazil's Justice Minister Flavio Dino, who said the police response was a bit too harsh.

In an interview on August 1, São Paulo state Governor Tarcisio de Freitas said that among those killed in the clashes were two police officers.

In the northeastern state of Bahia, Brazilian officials said 19 suspects had been killed since July 28. Clashes between police and gang members from July 28 to August 7 occurred in the cities of Salvador, Itatim and Camaçari.

In Salvador, clashes between police and armed suspects left four people dead. Schools in the area were closed. Police seized guns, phones and drugs.

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