At least 11 people were killed Thursday (23/3) in a police operation in a favela near Rio de Janeiro, including the leader of a drug trafficking ring operating in northern Brazil, local media reported.
Police said the operation in Salguero located in Sao Gonzalo, a rundown suburb of Rio, was aimed at arresting members of the Comando Vermilio in Pará state who had taken refuge there. News website G1 said 11 people were killed, but this number has not been confirmed by police authorities.
Police said the operation is still ongoing.
Comando Vermelio is one of the main criminal organizations in Brazil, mainly active in drug trafficking.
“Leonardo Arazo, known by the code name L41, wanted by the police, was killed in clashes with regime forces,” Para state governor Helder Barballo said on Twitter. “He was the main boss of the largest criminal organization in Pará and directed many attacks in Rio,” he added.
The police operation targeted the perpetrators of a series of attacks on security forces in Pará as well as other gang leaders involved in recent attacks on favelas on the western outskirts of Rio, where several cars were burned on Wednesday.
Two women, ages 53 and 62, were wounded in the crossfire, according to J1.
Rio State Governor Claudio Castro announced the arrest of two gang leaders operating in the states of Sergipe and Pará. Castro was also referring to a second police operation in Mare, north of Rio, where the leader of the Sergipe gang was arrested.
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