64 Killed In Rio Police Raids Ahead Of Climate Conferences

Last Updated:October 29, 2025, 02:27 IST

At least 64 people died in a major police raid in Rio de Janeiro, with 81 arrests and drone attacks as Rio prepares for the C40 summit and Prince William’s Earthshot Prize.

At least 64 people, including four police died in a massive police raid targeting organised crime in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.

In a post on X, the Rio de Janeiro’s government said that the authorities had launched an operation aiming to “combat the territorial expansion” of the Comando Vermelho (CV) criminal group. It further said that the operation against the crime was continuing for past one year.

CNN quoted the police department as stating that at least 81 people were arrested.

Governor Cláudio Castro told reporters that the death toll may rise as the operation continues. The authorities also stated that at least 42 rifles were seized during the operation. They further stated that the gang members had retaliated with a drone.

“In retaliation, criminals used drones to attack police officers in the Penha Complex,” Rio de Janeiro’s state government said in a post on X. They also shared a video of what appears to show a drone firing a projectile from the sky, CNN reported.

“Despite the attacks, security forces remain steadfast in the fight against crime,” the state government added.

Castro said that at present “it is not longer a common crime, it is narco-terrorism”.

According to Reuters, the police have often conducted large-scale operations against criminal groups ahead of major events in Rio, which hosted the 2016 Olympics, the 2024 G20 summit and the BRICS summit in July.

Next week, Rio will host C40 global summit of mayors tackling climate change and Prince William’s Earthshot Prize. The programme is part of the run-up to COP30, which will be held in the Amazon city of Belem from November 10 to November 21.

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