RIO DE JANEIRO - At least 119 people were killed in a massive police operation targeting an organized criminal ring in Brazil's second largest city Rio de Janeiro, authorities said Wednesday.

The large-scale raid was launched Tuesday against members of the Comando Vermelho gang in the Alemao and Penha favelas in the northern part of the city, the Rio de Janeiro state government said.

At a press conference, Rio state's civil police secretary Felipe Curi revised the death toll from an initially reported 128 to 119, including 115 suspected criminals and four police officers.

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State Governor Claudio Castro called the operation a "success" and the four slain officers the true victims.

The governor said the figure was based solely on bodies registered at the forensic medical institute, suggesting the final toll could rise.

"I cannot give a final tally until all the bodies have been counted," he added.