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Police Raid in Rio’s Vidigal Traps 200 Tourists on Morro Dois Irmãos

The raid, tied to a 2024 Bahia prison breakout, has renewed questions about favela tour safety.

Overview

  • The Polícia Civil operation, which began before 6:30 a.m. Monday in Vidigal, targeted fugitives linked to a late-2024 prison escape in the state of Bahia.
  • Roughly 200 visitors at the Morro Dois Irmãos lookout sheltered at the summit until gunfire eased, then descended in guided groups around 7:20 a.m.
  • Suspected Comando Vermelho members traded fire with police and blocked Avenida Niemeyer with a bus and containers, cutting the link between Leblon and São Conrado.
  • Police said no tourists were hurt and two people were detained, and they described the action as intelligence-led.
  • Some outlets reported the alleged target, Ednaldo “Dadá” Pereira Souza, escaped through a hidden passage and said arrests were unconfirmed, underscoring ongoing safety concerns around favela tourism.