Two Police Officers Die in Mega Operation Against Comando Vermelho in Rio

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – A major operation against the Comando Vermelho gang resulted in the deaths of two police officers on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Rodrigo Veloso Cabral and Marcus Vinícius Cardoso de Carvalho, known as Máscara, were among at least 60 people killed in the violence.

The operation targeted the gang within the Alemão and Penha complexes in North Zone. Officials confirmed that four of the deceased were police officers, while a total of 81 arrests were made during the crackdown, according to the Palace of Guanabara.

Marcus Vinícius joined the Civil Police in June 1999, starting his career at the Drug Repression Division. His nickname, “Máscara,” was given due to his resemblance to the character from the Jim Carrey film, “The Mask.” He had previously led investigations at various precincts, including the 18th Precinct, where he recently played an integral role in apprehending leaders of the Comando Vermelho for vehicle thefts.

On the day prior to the operation, Máscara received a promotion to police commissioner, the highest rank achievable by an investigator in the Civil Police.

Rodrigo Cabral, who had been with the force for less than two months, was stationed at the 39th Precinct, which covers some of the most dangerous areas in Rio, including the Chapadão and Pedreira complexes. Along with the two Civil Police officers, two military police officers from the Special Operations Battalion (Bope) also lost their lives in this operation.

The operation triggered violent reactions, as criminals blocked various roads across Rio in retaliation against law enforcement.