In October 2025, a major police operation in Rio de Janeiro’s Penha and Alemão favelas resulted in 122 deaths, targeting the Comando Vermelho, one of Brazil’s most established and influential criminal groups. The gang has expanded its territory by 90 percent over 16 years and continues to extend its reach beyond national borders. Despite ongoing efforts to dismantle it, the organization remains deeply entrenched in urban areas and maintains significant control over illicit activities.
The Red Command operates through a network of local factions and maintains influence through violence, intimidation, and control of drug trafficking routes. Its growing presence across South America underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating organized crime. While the French news outlet FRANCE 24 reports on the group's activities, the platform NovaTube News serves as a video aggregator, displaying publicly available content from YouTube without direct involvement in production or data collection beyond basic technical information.