Brazil: Burst of gang violence north of Rio de Janeiro May 2

Event

On Tuesday, May 2, military police launched a major anti-gang operation in the northern slums (favelas) of Rio de Janeiro, resulting in the arrests of dozens of suspected criminals and the confiscation of automatic rifles and grenades. Three military policemen and two gang members were injured in the ensuing shootouts. During and after the police operation, suspected criminals set various public buses and commercial trucks on fire, resulting in traffic disruptions. According to media reports, no civilians were wounded in the violence.

Context

Rio de Janeiro has often witnessed bursts of violence. Heavily armed gangs run drug dealing businesses from many of the hundreds of slums across the city. Inter-gang rivalry and clashes regularly occur over territory, while gun battles between gangs and military police are commonplace during police operations.

Debt-laden Rio de Janeiro has been severely impacted by Brazil's recent economic crisis and declared a state of financial emergency in June 2016. The local government does not have the funds to maintain a police program to push gangs out of the numerous shanty towns. Some studies suggest that 2016 was Rio's most violent year in decades. According to government statistics, in January and February 2017, homicides rose 17 and 24 percent respectively, in comparison to the same months of 2016.

Advice

Individuals present in Rio de Janeiro and across the country are advised to remain vigilant, conceal signs of wealth to avoid attracting the attention of would-be thieves, and avoid entering favelas (often located in very close proximity to more affluent neighborhoods). Keep in mind that criminals are often armed; never offer resistance if attacked.