Latin America

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Wednesday he is sending the armed forces to boost security at some of the country's most important airports, ports and international borders as part of a renewed effort to tackle organized crime in Latin America's largest nation.

Issued on: 02/11/2023 - 01:17

3 min

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NEWS WIRES

The decision comes days after members of a criminal gang set fire to dozens of buses in Rio de Janeiro, apparently in retaliation for the police slaying their leader's nephew.

"We have reached a very serious situation," Lula said at a press conference in Brasilia after signing the decree. "So we have made the decision to have the federal government participate actively, with all its potential, to help state governments, and Brazil itself, to get rid of organised crime."

Brazil will mobilise 3,600 members of the army, navy and air force to increase patrols and monitor the international airports in Rio and Sao Paulo, as well as two maritime ports in Rio and Sao Paulo's Santos port, the busiest in Latin America – and a major export hub for cocaine.

The deployment is part of a government's broader plan that includes increasing the number of federal police forces in Rio, improving cooperation between law enforcement entities and boosting investment in state-of-the-art technology for intelligence gathering.

Attempt to 'suffocate' militias
State and federal authorities have said in recent weeks they want to "suffocate" militias by going after their financial resources.

More:
https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20231102-brazil-sends-army-to-transport-hubs-to-crack-down-on-organised-crime