At least 18 suspects and some police officers were killed Tuesday during a massive anti-drug raid in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian authorities said, as prolonged gun battles erupted and demolition vehicles destroyed street barricades.

As many as 2,500 officers as well as armored vehicles and helicopters took part in the raid that targeted one of Brazil's main drug-trafficking gangs in two low-income neighborhoods.

War-like scenes unfolded during the operation, which was still going on as of Tuesday afternoon. Images circulating on social media showed columns of smoke rising into the sky as bursts of gunfire rang out.

Rio State Governor Claudio Castro described the operation as the largest in the history of the state.

"So far, we have 56 arrests and 18 criminals neutralized," he told a pres

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