Rio de Janeiro police raid in Gardênia Azul curbs gang expansion

The Rio de Janeiro Military Police (PM) carried out an operation on Tuesday in the Gardênia Azul neighborhood of the city's Southwest Zone. Units of the 18th Battalion (Jacarepaguá) were deployed to repress the territorial expansion of criminal factions, including local militia groups and the Comando Vermelho gang, which use the area as a base for attacks on nearby districts.

The raid follows a report that a police officer nicknamed “Bigode” or “Bigode Mexicano” had been warning traffickers about upcoming police actions. An audio message to criminals indicated that the operation could be extended to other regions, with no fixed end date, and that attention would also focus on the nearby Cidade de Deus community.