Operation Containment: The notorious Red Command gang rules Brazil, earning ₹2.27 trillion from drugs and extortion.

News Topical, Digital Desk : Hundreds of people lost their lives in a military raid in the Brazilian capital, Rio de Janeiro, last month. The city's favelas saw long lines of bodies lining the streets after Operation Containment on October 28th.

The operation involved 2,500 police and soldiers. 132 people were killed in police gunfire, including 117 members of Brazil's most notorious and feared "Red Command Gang." Police
seized 118 weapons, 14 explosives, and a ton of drugs.

What is Red Command Gang?

The Red Command gang is Brazil's most notorious criminal network. It is also involved in drug trafficking. The Red Command originated in 1979 at Rio's Candido Mendes prison, where common criminals and political prisoners were held together. In prison, the criminals united to form the organization known as "Falange Vermelha."

According to reports, this gang dominates Brazilian politics and society. It has over 30,000 active members. The Red Command gang's annual illegal income is estimated to exceed 2.27 lakh crore rupees. By the 1980s, it had controlled 70% of Rio's drug centers.

Drugs have deep penetration in the black business

The Red Command Gang has become the undisputed kingpin of the cocaine and drug trade. It also handles businesses ranging from gold and arms smuggling to crude oil, liquor, and construction. Its members are no longer limited to criminal activities. They have also infiltrated the police, politics, and business sectors, operating from there.

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