Red Command issues general hail in Rio de Janeiro and orders robberies amid war with 64 dead

Guerra no Rio de Janeiro 2025 1 – Foto; FacTual Rio

The Red Command faction released a salve at 4pm this Tuesday, October 28, 2025, ordering members to rob everything and advising the population to avoid going out in Rio de Janeiro. The message circulates on social networks and responds to a mega police operation in the Alemão and Penha complexes, in the North Zone, which left 64 dead and 81 arrested. The police action, started at dawn, involved 2,500 agents and faced armed resistance.

Traffickers reacted with blockades on main roads and use of drones with explosives. The Military Police suspended administrative activities and put all personnel on the streets. Four police officers died in clashes, including two from Bope.

• 60 suspects eliminated in shootouts.
• 81 arrests made during the operation.
• 75 rifles seized at different points.

Ongoing police operation

Agents arrived at the communities at the end of the early morning. Criminals set up barricades with fire and started intense shooting.

A record captured about 200 shots in one minute. Columns of smoke rose on internal roads.

Identified victims in clashes

Two civilian police officers lost their lives in joint action. Marcus Vinícius Cardoso de Carvalho, 51 years old, led investigations at the 53rd DP.

Rodrigo Velloso Cabral, 34 years old, worked at the 39th DP. Two Bope military officers were also hit: Cleiton Searafim Gonçalves and Herbert de Almeida.

Three civilians suffered injuries from stray bullets. There were no deaths among innocents so far.

Arrests of faction leaders

Thiago do Nascimento Mendes, known as Belão do Quitungo, leads the Red Command in the region and was captured. Nicolas Fernandes Soares manages finances for Edgar Alves de Andrade, known as Doca.

79 other suspects remain detained. Investigations continue on support networks.

Retaliations affect urban roads

Criminals blocked lanes with stolen vehicles and debris. The Linha Amarela registered interruptions in the early afternoon.

Rua Dias da Cruz, in Méier, also faced blockades. The Rio Operations Center raised the level to 2.

Schools and health units suspended services in affected areas. Residents reported mobility restrictions.

Seizures of heavy weaponry

Police seized 75 rifles at various points in the communities. Two pistols complemented the retained material.

Nine motorcycles used by traffickers were seized. Analyses continue on the arsenal’s origins.

The operation continues in specific sectors with reports of additional injured. Authorities plan similar actions to contain the faction.

Context of the state initiative

The state government launched the Containment operation to stop the Red Command’s advance. Prior intelligence guided the planning without federal support.

About 280 thousand people live in the affected complexes. The total area amounts to 9 million square meters.

Two dead suspects came from Bahia and one from Espírito Santo. The initiative involved fulfilling 100 judicial warrants.