On Sunday, Brazil’s Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) Judge Alexandre de Moraes called for the preservation of all documentation and physical evidence linked to Operation Containment. This extensive security operation targeted the powerful drug lord of the “Red Command” in Rio de Janeiro.
The decision followed a request from the Federal Public Security Agency (DPU) amid concerns over the alleged failure to adhere to the stipulations of a 2019 lawsuit initiated by Brazil’s Socialist Party. This legal action aimed to curtail lethal police operations in Rio’s slums.
Last week, around 2,500 members from various civil and military law enforcement agencies undertook Operation Containment in areas like the Complexo de Alemão and Peña slums. The operation was a direct response to the Red Command’s escalating activities, especially its plans to expand its territory in two northern regions of Rio.
The Red Command retaliated fiercely against law enforcement, employing tactics reminiscent of war, like setting up barricades on fire and using drones to attack officers. Authorized by Governor Claudio Castro, this operation is noted as the deadliest in Brazilian history, resulting in at least 121 fatalities, which included four law enforcement officers.
The operation also led to 113 arrests, along with the detainment of minors. By Sunday evening, authorities had seized 118 firearms, including 91 rifles, alongside various amounts of drugs and ammunition, although they were still in the process of tallying the total numbers.
Judge de Moraes emphasized the need for meticulous documentation regarding all aspects of security operations in Rio, including forensic evidence and detention procedures. The STF clarified that this move was in response to the public defender’s office’s request to ensure proper oversight and investigation by the public prosecutor of the operation.
Reportedly, President de Moraes issued this directive as part of a legal action known as “ADPF.” This lawsuit, originally filed by the Socialist Party in 2019, sought to address police violence during operations in Rio de Janeiro and aimed to establish regulations to lower police lethality.
According to the court’s press release, this decision affirms previous STF plenary directives regarding the need to maintain crime scene evidence and uphold the independence of forensic evaluations in investigations involving homicides.
The memo also indicated that the Governor of Rio de Janeiro is expected to be summoned to ensure adherence to this ruling.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes has been recognized for spearheading a campaign against Brazil’s former conservative president Jair Bolsonaro and his family over the years, leading to various legal actions against him, including censorship and police raids.
In September, de Moraes, along with other STF judges, found Bolsonaro guilty of charges against democracy, sentencing him to over 27 years in prison. The court alleged that Bolsonaro colluded with others in an attempt to overturn the outcome of the closely contested October 2022 election.
In July, former President Donald Trump highlighted de Moraes’ political actions against Bolsonaro in an executive order classifying Brazil as a national security threat.
A left-wing newspaper reported that the STF reviewed the “ADPF” case in April, concluding that there existed unconstitutional security measures in Rio. To tackle this, the court set forth protocols that state governments must follow when police actions lead to fatalities.
One of the judges involved in the case, Edson Fassin, has recently taken over as the STF president, while the previous case rapporteur, Luis Roberto Barroso, retired last month.
De Moraes is anticipated to visit Rio de Janeiro Monday to meet with Governor Claudio Castro and discuss the recent security measures. During the earlier hearings, he had suggested a joint session involving various human rights organizations.
In a recent announcement, the state government of Rio de Janeiro provided media outlets with drone footage taken during the clashes, showing confrontations between police and the Red Command. Reports claim that 115 individuals, linked to criminal activities, were killed during the operation.
Governor Castro has been vocal about labeling the Red Command’s actions as “narco-terrorism,” urging federal authorities to classify the group as a terrorist entity. Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski has pushed back against this suggestion, stating that the organization does not meet the definition of a terrorist group in a recent press conference.
In his social media posts, Castro has stressed the international aspect of the threat posed by the Red Command, referring to similar recognitions in neighboring countries and emphasizing the need for Brazil to confront the reality of this situation. He labeled the group as “narco-terrorists” and underscored the serious implications of their territorial control on democracy and law enforcement.
The Red Command originated in the 1970s within a Rio prison amid a collaboration between criminals and leftist radicals. What began as a self-defense initiative for prisoners has now transformed into a significant transnational syndicate engaged in various criminal enterprises, including drug trafficking, violence, and corruption.
