Rio de Janeiro — Four Brazil Police officers have been removed from road duty pending investigation into their involvement in deadly raid Seven suspected drug traffickers and a resident were killed in a low-income part of Rio de Janeiro, authorities said Friday.
Rio state military police said in an email to The Associated Press that the decision came after a preliminary analysis of Wednesday’s operation in the Prajeres favela near the bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa in central Rio found “inappropriate use” of body cameras. He did not elaborate on what the improper use meant, or whether they might have been turned off during the raid.
Police said the officers involved were transferred from operational duties to administrative activities to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation by the Internal Affairs Division of the Military Police.
The raid killed Claudio Augusto dos Santos, a suspected drug trafficking leader of the notorious crime group Red Command. Six other suspected drug smugglers and a resident also died.
Suspected gang associates retaliated by setting fire to a bus and blocking roads, leading to five arrests for acts of vandalism.
About 150 military police officers were involved in Wednesday’s operation, which targeted the sprawling urban communities of Prazeres, Fallet, Foguateiro, Corroa, Escondidinho and Paula Ramos.
last year, A major raid against Red Command This resulted in more than 120 deaths in the Penha and Complexo de Alemão favelas, the deadliest in Rio’s history. death toll instigated protests and demanded the resignation of Governor Claudio Castro.
Red Command has more than doubled its presence since 2023 and criminal gangs are now active almost half of the Brazilian Amazon Municipalities
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