Police raids targeting drug gangs in three Brazilian states have left at least 43 people dead.

In the latest operation in Rio de Janeiro, police said they returned fire in a shoot-out in the Complexo da Penha area, killing at least 10.

Earlier, 14 suspects died in clashes during a five-day police raid in São Paulo state, dubbed Operation Shield.

And in the north-eastern state of Bahia, officials say 19 suspects have been killed since Friday.

Fifty-eight people were arrested during the operation in São Paulo state, which began after a special forces police officer was killed on Thursday in the coastal town of Guarujá.

Police seized 385kg of narcotics, as well as guns, according to local media.

The operation was criticised by Brazil’s Justice Minister Flavio Dino, who said the police’s reaction was not proportional to the crime committed.