A police operation in the Fazenda Coutos neighborhood, on the outskirts of Salvador, ended with the deaths of 12 men on Tuesday (04/03), the last day of Carnival. The Bahia Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP-BA) is overseeing the investigation, which is being conducted by the Civil Police. The operation was described as “urgent” by the commander of the Military Police, Colonel Paulo Coutinho. Of the 12 suspects, only 11 have been identified by the Technical Police Department (DPT).
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What Happened
According to the Bahia Public Security Secretary (SSP-BA), Marcelo Werner, the Military Police (PM) carried out preliminary planning before occupying Fazenda Coutos, after discovering the presence of heavily armed criminals in the area. The suspects, who were shot, were located in a wooded area and inside two houses, which they allegedly used as strategic positions to attack the PM officers. Some residents were removed from their homes or held hostage, though no civilian injuries were reported. During the operation, 12 firearms were seized, including submachine guns, pistols, and revolvers, along with magazines, balaclavas, telecommunications radios, drugs, and precision scales.
Gang War
According to Secretary Marcelo Werner, the exact timeline of events is still under investigation. However, authorities confirmed that at least two shootouts between rival gangs were recorded before the police arrived. Military Police Commander Paulo Coutinho stated that the security forces were deployed after Red Command (CV) drug traffickers invaded a community in Fazenda Coutos, which is controlled by Bonde do Maluco (BDM), a rival criminal faction. Since Monday night (03/03), residents of the Teotônio Vilela area reported intense gunfire between rival groups. Criminals occupied homes to establish bases and held residents hostage. When the Military Police intervened, they were met with gunfire from the invading criminal group, triggering the deadly confrontation.
Who Were the Dead?
According to the Bahia Public Security Department (SSP-BA), the suspects were young men aged between 17 and 27. Eleven have been identified, while the 12th individual remains unidentified, as he had no documents at the time of the incident.
Cameras on Uniforms
The Department of Public Security (SSP-BA) reported that the police officers involved in the shootout belong to a unit that does not yet use body cameras. In 2024, the year Bahia began implementing body cameras, the state reversed the trend of increasing deaths caused by police intervention, recording an 8.5% drop compared to 2023. According to data from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Bahia recorded 1,557 deaths in police actions in 2024, compared to 1,702 in 2023. The number of deaths has been increasing since 2015, making this decline a notable shift. However, despite the decrease, Bahia still leads the country in absolute numbers of deaths caused by police interventions, followed by São Paulo (749 deaths), Rio de Janeiro, and Pará.
Analysis:
Bahia is facing one of its most critical moments in public security, caught at a crossroads where the intensifying conflict between criminal factions, the expansion of militia activity, and the surge in police lethality intersect. The police operation in Fazenda Coutos, which resulted in the deaths of 12 suspects, exemplifies this crisis. Law enforcement frequently intervenes in response to escalating gang wars, but the high number of fatalities raises concerns about proportionality and the risks associated with large-scale armed confrontations.
The absence of body cameras on the officers involved in the operation further complicates the situation. Data from 2024 indicates that the introduction of body cameras contributed to a reduction in police-related deaths, yet Bahia remains the state with the highest number of fatalities in police actions. The lack of recorded footage in cases like Fazenda Coutos weakens transparency and accountability, making it difficult to assess whether the use of force was justified or excessive.
Additionally, the broader security landscape in Salvador reflects deeper systemic failures. The operation took place amid a violent territorial dispute between the Red Command and Bonde do Maluco, with reports of criminals occupying homes and taking hostages. Beyond reactive policing, Bahia needs intelligence-driven strategies to dismantle criminal networks while simultaneously addressing the socio-economic factors that fuel gang recruitment.
