Buenos Aires, Oct 29, (dpa/GNA) – At least 20 people have been killed in Rio de Janeiro, in a police operation against the Comando Vermelho, or Red Command, crime syndicate, according to Brazilian media reports on Tuesday.
The dead included 18 suspects and two police officers, TV Globo reported. Nine police officers and three civilians suffered gunshot wounds.
Criminals set barricades on fire, dropped explosive devices from drones and opened fire on the officers, according to reports.
Media accounts said 56 suspected gang members were detained, during the large-scale operation in the Alemão favela and the Penha district, in the north of Rio.
At least 2,500 police officers took part in the operation to execute 100 arrest warrants. Videos showed black plumes of smoke rising over the districts.
Comando Vermelho is one of the largest crime syndicates in the South American country, and is chiefly active in drug trafficking.
During the operation, a regional leader of the group and the finance chief of one of the gang’s top bosses were detained, according to the authorities.
GNA