Rio de Janeiro. At least nine people died this Wednesday in a police operation against drug trafficking in the Complexo da Penha, a group of favelas in the north of Rio de Janeiro, reported the military police.
This new incursion brings to 42 the number of deaths in similar operations by security forces in different states in the last six days, adding another 14 in the state of Sao Paulo (southeast) and 19 in Bahia (northeast).
The action in Rio was aimed at “locating and arresting members of criminal groups” in the region, whose leaders would meet this Wednesday, according to intelligence information that guided the police action, a statement said.
As in the other cases, the force reported that officers “were fired upon” by armed individuals and clashes ensued.
“Eleven suspects were rescued” and taken to a hospital, but “nine of them did not resist” their injuries.
Among the dead are two criminal gang leaders, police said.
In addition, a military policeman was injured and is in “stable condition.”
