A police raid targeting a notorious criminal gang in Rio de Janeiro's Vidigal favela left approximately 200 tourists stranded atop the popular Morro Dois Irmãos hill for over half an hour as gunfire erupted below.
Authorities from the Public Prosecutor's Office of Bahia and Rio's Polícia Civil moved in to arrest alleged members of the Comando Vermelho gang, believed to be hiding in the neighborhood. The operation blocked the main access trail to the summit—a prime sunrise viewing spot overlooking Ipanema Beach—trapping visitors who had ascended before dawn.
"We had waited for sunrise and, suddenly, the guides asked us to sit down and we started hearing gunshots," said Portuguese tourist Matilda Oliveiro, who was with her sister Rita. "They did their job. It's always scary, but it was controlled as much as possible."
Social media footage captured the surreal scene: tourists sitting on the ground as a police helicopter circled overhead and distant shots echoed through the morning air. Guides, who had been briefed about the operation beforehand, coordinated with police to maintain calm.
Danielly Nobre, 25, described the tense moments: "We were caught by surprise. We were already at the top when we started hearing gunshots, and the guides were already telling us what was happening." She added that a passing police helicopter signaled for everyone to remain calm.
After about 30 minutes, the stranded group was able to descend single file, assisted by guides. Remarkably, many expressed a sense of relief mixed with adrenaline. "In the end, everything worked out," Nobre told local media. "Everyone went down in a single file, everyone helping, and we managed to finish the trail, see the sunrise, and experience that adrenaline rush."
The Comando Vermelho gang, along with similar organizations, maintains strict control over territories in Rio, extending their influence beyond drug trafficking to monopolize services like gas, cable television, internet, and transport in the areas they dominate.