Rio de Janeiro police raid in Santa Marta favela traps tourists and leaves four dead

On the morning of 23 June 2026, Rio de Janeiro’s Civil Police launched a phase of the state‑wide Operation Containment against the Comando Vermelho gang in the Santa Marta/Dona Marta favela. Dozens of arrest and search warrants were executed, targeting more than 40 suspects and the leadership of the drug‑trafficking network.

The raid triggered a fierce firefight that lasted about 20 minutes. Official counts report at least four people killed and six suspects detained. A civilian passenger was wounded in the leg by a stray bullet while riding a bus on Rua São Clemente.

Approximately 50–60 tourists, many from Argentina and Chile, were trapped at the favela’s sunrise viewpoint during the exchange of gunfire. They were forced to take cover on the ground before being released once the situation was secured. Visits to the site were subsequently suspended.

The operation is part of an ongoing campaign that, since October 2025, has resulted in roughly 360 arrests, 137 deaths, and the seizure of about 480 firearms and 51 000 rounds of ammunition. Authorities say the offensive aims to dismantle the gang’s financial, logistical and territorial structures.