Over $2M in Weapons Seized in Deadly Rio Anti-Drug Raid

Authorities seized more than $2 million worth of weapons during a recent anti-drug raid in Rio de Janeiro, the deadliest in Brazil’s history, the state government said Saturday.

The massive police operation on Tuesday, carried out across two favela complexes, left at least 117 suspected criminals and four police officers dead, according to official figures.

The Rio de Janeiro state government described the haul as “one of the largest seizures” of military-grade weapons in a single day — 120 firearms in total, including 93 rifles, valued at 12.8 million reais (approximately $2.4 million).

The raid also uncovered ammunition, explosives, drugs, and military equipment. It targeted Comando Vermelho, one of Brazil’s oldest and most powerful gangs, which controls large areas of Rio de Janeiro.

Some weapons were traced to foreign countries such as Argentina, Belgium, Germany, Peru, Russia, and Venezuela, and included models commonly used in conflict zones, such as the AK-47 and FAL rifles. Some firearms were military-grade.

“We are looking at an arsenal typical of a war scenario,” said Rio de Janeiro Civil Police Secretary Felipe Curi, adding that authorities will investigate the routes used by criminal groups to bring the weapons into the city.

The raid has drawn condemnation from human rights organizations, and the United Nations has called for an investigation. Relatives of some victims denounced summary executions, while journalists reported seeing decapitated bodies at the scene.

Despite the criticism, polls indicate that most Brazilians supported the operation. State Governor Claudio Castro described it as a success against “narco-terrorism.”

Even President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, often criticised as being soft on crime, signalled a tougher stance. “We cannot accept that organized crime continues to destroy families, oppress residents, and spread drugs and violence throughout the cities,” Lula said on X.

Lula has proposed a bill to Congress imposing a 30-year prison sentence for gang members and on Thursday signed new measures into law to strengthen the fight against organized crime.