Why Rio de Janeiro's Governor Just Oversaw Its Worst Favela Massacre

Three of the four deadliest raids in Rio de Janeiro's history have come under Governor Claudio Castro, yet almost nothing has changed. So why does he keep using the?

Shortly after 4 a.m. on October 28, a force of 2,500 police and military, supported by armoured vehicles and helicopters, descended upon the Alemão and Penha favela complexes in Rio de Janeiro. These densely populated areas are home to roughly 300,000 residents.

The mission’s official aim was to dismantle a command structure, belonging to the Red Command (Comando Vermelho - CV), believed to be coordinating the group’s westward territorial push into militia-controlled zones. It was commanded by one of CV’s foremost leaders, Edgar Alves de Andrade, known as “Doca.”

By day’s end, at least 132 people were dead.

This was the worst one-day tally for any security raid in Brazilian history, far outpacing the Jacarezinho massacre of 2021, when 28 were killed.