At least 11 people were killed today in a police operation in a favela near Rio de Janeiro, including the leader of a drug-trafficking gang operating in northern Brazil, local media reported.

The operation in Salgueiro, located in São Gonzalo, a run-down suburb of Rio, was aimed at arresting members of Para State’s Comando Vermelio who had taken refuge there, police said.

News website G1 said 11 people were killed, but police authorities did not confirm that number.

Police said the operation is still ongoing.

Comando Vermelio is one of the main criminal organizations in Brazil, mainly active in drug trafficking.

The governor of Para State, Helder Barbalio, said on Twitter that “Leonardo Araúzo, known by the code name L41, wanted by the police, was killed in clashes with the forces of order.” “He was the main leader of Para’s largest criminal organization and had directed many attacks in Rio,” he added.

The police operation targeted the perpetrators of a series of attacks on security forces in Para as well as other gang leaders involved in recent attacks on favelas in Rio’s western suburbs, where several cars were torched on Wednesday.

Two women, aged 53 and 62, were wounded in the exchange of fire, according to G1.

The governor of Rio State, Claudio Castro, announced the arrest of two gang leaders operating in Sergipe and Para States. Castro was also referring to a second police operation that took place in Mare, north of Rio, where the leader of a Sergipe gang was arrested.