Brazil: Police operation in Rio de Janeiro kills at least seven suspects early Feb. 27

A police operation and associated armed clashes between security forces and criminal suspects has killed at least seven people and injured others in Rio de Janeiro's North Zone early Feb. 27. Local security forces and agents from the Battalion of Special Police Operations (Batalhao de Operacoes Policiais Especiais, BOPE) are carrying out operations in the North Zone's Complexo da Mare, Complexo do Alemao, Complexo da Penha areas, as well as in the West Zone's Cidade de Deus area. The operation aims to apprehend members of the Red Command (Comando Vermelho, CV), one of Brazil's most powerful drug-trafficking organizations. Suspects erected multiple barricades in the affected areas, and dozens of schools remained closed due to the exchange of fire on Feb. 27.

Heightened security, business, and traffic disruptions are likely in and around the affected area through at least late Feb. 27. Transport disruptions along the Red Line Expressway (Linha Vermelha), which leads to Rio de Janeiro/Galeao - Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG), are possible. Further armed clashes cannot be ruled out.