RIO DE JANEIRO - Rio de Janeiro's main gun and drug trafficking gang was disbanded after 26 people were arrested in the south-eastern Brazilian state on Tuesday.

More than 400 police agents were involved in the operation, said officials with Rio de Janeiro's Civil Police.

The gang had been bringing guns and drugs into Rio de Janeiro and distributing them in the city. Sales are estimated to have reached 7 million Brazilian reais ($2.25 million) per month.

According to the police, the leaders of the gang were prisoners who managed to head up the whole criminal organization from behind bars.