The city's criminal drug trafficking factions initiated a series of attacks in response to the government placing permanent police forces[4] into Rio's slums.

In response to the attacks, the local police forces with the aid of the Brazilian Army and Marine Corps initiated a large scale offensive against two of the largest drug trafficking headquarters in the city, located in the Vila Cruzeiro and the neighboring Complexo do Alemão.

The operation is considered a success by the government and local media and a large quantity of illegal drugs, weapons and money were confiscated.

Though the attacks ended, the police and military forces still occupy the Complexo do Alemão, the largest favela in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Despite the fact that most of the criminals managed to escape, the operation was considered by the local media as a major victory against crime in Rio de Janeiro and a turning point in the war against drug trafficking in Brazil.