Rio de Janeiro's governor, Cláudio Castro, requested the transfer of ten Comando Vermelho leaders to maximum-security federal prisons, a plea approved by the federal government on Tuesday, October 28. The move coincides with a major police operation in the state capital that led to at least 64 deaths. A federal delegation is set to arrive in Rio on Wednesday, 29, to address the public security crisis.
On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Rio de Janeiro Governor Cláudio Castro (PL) requested the immediate transfer of ten inmates identified as key Comando Vermelho leaders operating from inside prisons, according to civil and penal police reports. The plea was made during a meeting with Minister Rui Costa (Casa Civil) and approved by the federal government after consultation with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Castro joined by phone, marking his first request tied to the ongoing operation.
The request aligns with a major police operation targeting Comando Vermelho's territorial expansion in the Penha and Alemão complexes in Rio's North Zone. Involving around 2,500 agents, the action resulted in at least 64 deaths, including four officers, making it the deadliest in the state capital's history – eclipsing the Jacarezinho massacre in May 2021, with 28 fatalities. By day's end, 81 suspects were arrested and 72 rifles seized. The state aimed to execute 69 arrest warrants across 180 addresses, calling it the largest security operation in its history.
The Lula administration ruled out Garantia da Lei e da Ordem (GLO) for now but left open future presidential decisions. A delegation including Rui Costa and Justice and Public Security Minister Ricardo Lewandowski will head to Rio on Wednesday, 29, to assess the situation and coordinate with state authorities. Lewandowski described the operation as 'quite bloody' and denied receiving federal support requests, countering Castro's claims that three pleas for armored vehicles were rejected.
The Planalto rebutted suggestions of withheld aid, stating no consultations came from the Rio government. Lula's aides labeled the operation disastrous and uncoordinated, accusing Castro of electoral opportunism. The federal side leveraged the incident to urge Congress to expedite public security bills, including the Public Security PEC.