At least 18 people died on Thursday during a major police raid in a dense warren of Rio de Janeiro slums, state military police said, in the latest bloody confrontation in Brazil's second-largest city.

At least 18 killed in latest deadly police raid in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro police attacked the Vila Cruzeiro favela early Tuesday, sparking a ferocious battle in which 21 people were killed.According to authorities, the operation was focused on discovering and apprehending criminal leaders of drug-trafficking group, some of whom were from other states.

Brazil drug-trafficking: 21 people killed during police raid in Rio favela

At least 25 people including a police officer have been killed in a shootout between suspected drug traffickers and police in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday. The police said that this is one of the deadliest raids in recent times.

Brazil: At Least 25 dead in police raid in Rio de Janeiro