2010 Rio de Janeiro Security Crisis
Encyclopedia
In November 2010, there was a huge security crisis in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro
and some of its neighboring cities when a series of attacks against civilian targets occurred from the week of 21 to 28 of that month. Dozens of motor vehicles were burned by orders of the city's main criminal factions that control drug trafficking at the region in response to the government's newest security policy based on the occupation of Rio's slums by permanent police forces named UPPs
(Unidades de Polícia Pacificadora - Pacifying Police Units).
In response the Local Police forces with the aid of the Brazilian Army
and Marine Corps
initiated a large scale offensive against two of the largest drug trafficking headquarters in the city, located in the Vila Cruzeiro and the neighboring Complexo do Alemão
. Despite most of the criminals managed to escape and are still at large, the operation is considered a success by the government and local media as an entire community inhabited by hundreds of thousands is liberated from the faction's rule and a huge sum of illegal drugs, weapons and money was confiscated from hideouts located across the complex, dealing a prejudice of hundreds of millions on the criminals. After the occupation, the attacks on vehicles quickly subsided.
, the Brazilian Army
, and the Brazilian Marine Corps
had been summoned in order to restore the peace in the city and counter-attack the drug traffickers by taking control of their headquarters in the favelas, located at the group of slums named Complexo do Alemão
, which was finally taken by the police around 10:00 am of November, 28 .
By the end of the favela violence, over 40 people (almost all of them criminals) have been killed in the conflict and over 200 people have been arrested. Though the attacks ended, the police and military forces still occupy the Complexo do Alemão
, the largest favela in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
November 22
November 23
November 24
November 25
November 26
November 27
November 28
Through a deal between the State government and the Federal government, the troops will remain stationed in the occupied area until a permanent police force is installed to maintain security. Despite the fact that most of the criminals managed to escape, the operation is considered by the local media as a major victory against crime in Rio de Janeiro and a turning point in the war against drug trafficking in Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
and some of its neighboring cities when a series of attacks against civilian targets occurred from the week of 21 to 28 of that month. Dozens of motor vehicles were burned by orders of the city's main criminal factions that control drug trafficking at the region in response to the government's newest security policy based on the occupation of Rio's slums by permanent police forces named UPPs
Pacifying Police Unit
The Pacifying Police Unit , abbreviated UPP, is a law enforcement program in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which aims at reclaiming territories, more commonly favelas, controlled by gangs of drug dealers or private militias...
(Unidades de Polícia Pacificadora - Pacifying Police Units).
In response the Local Police forces with the aid of the Brazilian Army
Brazilian Army
The Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America and during the 19th century, such as the Brazilian War of Independence , Argentina-Brazil War , War of the Farrapos , Platine War , Uruguayan War ...
and Marine Corps
Brazilian Marine Corps
The Brazilian Marine Corps is the land combat branch of the Brazilian Navy.- Mission :...
initiated a large scale offensive against two of the largest drug trafficking headquarters in the city, located in the Vila Cruzeiro and the neighboring Complexo do Alemão
Complexo do Alemão
Complexo do Alemão is a group of favelas in northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.-History:An article published by O Globo in 2007 revealed the origin of Complexo do Alemão. After World War I, a Pole named Leonard Kaczmarkiewicz bought the land...
. Despite most of the criminals managed to escape and are still at large, the operation is considered a success by the government and local media as an entire community inhabited by hundreds of thousands is liberated from the faction's rule and a huge sum of illegal drugs, weapons and money was confiscated from hideouts located across the complex, dealing a prejudice of hundreds of millions on the criminals. After the occupation, the attacks on vehicles quickly subsided.
Overview
Violent acts by drug dealers consisted of incinerating cars, buses and trucks on the streets (over 181 motor vehicles were incinerated), and armed conflicts between the police and the drug dealers at different places of those cities. Being an elevated emergency situation, the local police, along with the BOPEBOPE
Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais , mostly known by its acronym BOPE, is a special forces unit of the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil....
, the Brazilian Army
Brazilian Army
The Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America and during the 19th century, such as the Brazilian War of Independence , Argentina-Brazil War , War of the Farrapos , Platine War , Uruguayan War ...
, and the Brazilian Marine Corps
Brazilian Marine Corps
The Brazilian Marine Corps is the land combat branch of the Brazilian Navy.- Mission :...
had been summoned in order to restore the peace in the city and counter-attack the drug traffickers by taking control of their headquarters in the favelas, located at the group of slums named Complexo do Alemão
Complexo do Alemão
Complexo do Alemão is a group of favelas in northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.-History:An article published by O Globo in 2007 revealed the origin of Complexo do Alemão. After World War I, a Pole named Leonard Kaczmarkiewicz bought the land...
, which was finally taken by the police around 10:00 am of November, 28 .
By the end of the favela violence, over 40 people (almost all of them criminals) have been killed in the conflict and over 200 people have been arrested. Though the attacks ended, the police and military forces still occupy the Complexo do Alemão
Complexo do Alemão
Complexo do Alemão is a group of favelas in northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.-History:An article published by O Globo in 2007 revealed the origin of Complexo do Alemão. After World War I, a Pole named Leonard Kaczmarkiewicz bought the land...
, the largest favela in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Timeline of the Crisis
November 21- In the afternoon, six heavily armed criminals incinerated two cars at Linha Vermelha, one of Rio's most important highways. Since then similar attacks started occurring throughout the city and another group of criminals opened fire against a Brazilian Air ForceBrazilian Air ForceThe Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
Vehicle.
November 22
- A police cabin was shot at Dom Helder Camara Avenue. In addition to the attacks on cars, mass robberies happen in some streets. The government implies that "a small criminal faction" is responsible for the attacks and patrolling is increased. Three people were killed.
November 23
- A large scale operation from Rio's Military police invaded several slums of the city in search of those responsible for the series of attacks. Some sources indicate that the order for the attacks came from drug lords imprisioned in the Catanduvas Federal Maximum Security Prison. Three people died and five were arrested.
November 24
- The attacks on civilian and police targets intensify. The government declares an order calling all able members of the police force to reinforce patrolment including those on license and performing administrative duties. Eight criminals emprisioned in the city responsible for taking part in the crisis are transferfed to the Catanduvas Prison. Fifteen suspects were killed and at least thirty were arrested. The local government asked for the Brazilian Marine CorpsBrazilian Marine CorpsThe Brazilian Marine Corps is the land combat branch of the Brazilian Navy.- Mission :...
' support to launch a counter offensive on the criminals.
November 25
- The Rio's Special Task Forces (BOPE) invades one of the city's most dangerous areas at the Vila Cruzeiro with the aid of several Marine Corps' armored vehicles. Dozens of criminals desperately fled to their nearby headquarters at the Complexo do AlemãoComplexo do AlemãoComplexo do Alemão is a group of favelas in northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.-History:An article published by O Globo in 2007 revealed the origin of Complexo do Alemão. After World War I, a Pole named Leonard Kaczmarkiewicz bought the land...
. Details of the operation, including the criminals' run, are broadcast by the local TV stations to the whole world.
November 26
- The Brazilian government sent hundreds of soldiers from the Army and members of the Federal Police Force to further increase security in the city and put the Complexo do Alemão under siege. So far more than 100 vehicles were destroyed and around 40 people killed since the start of the crisis. The President Luís Inácio Lula da Silva declares that the Federal Government fully supports Rio's government to end the situation as soon as possible. Spouses and lawyers of some of the imprisoned leaders of the criminal factions are arrested on suspicion of relaying their orders to start the attacks to their cohorts out of prison.
November 27
- The Joint task force composed of members of the local police, Army and Marine Corps gives an ultimatum to the criminals at the Complexo do AlemãoComplexo do AlemãoComplexo do Alemão is a group of favelas in northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.-History:An article published by O Globo in 2007 revealed the origin of Complexo do Alemão. After World War I, a Pole named Leonard Kaczmarkiewicz bought the land...
to surrender while residents evacuate the premisces in spite of the impending invasion. The wave of attacks on civilian targets start to fade.
November 28
- The Complexo do Alemão is taken over by the police with little resistance, but only a few criminals supposed to be hiding in the place are arrested. Further investigations point that the majority managed to escape through rough terrains around the Complex or through a network of illegal water canals built under the favelas.
Aftermath
Just after the occupation of the Complexo do Alemão and Vila Cruzeiro by the Army, the attacks on vehicles stopped and crisis came to an end. The police managed to apprehend around 40 tonnes of marijuana and 250 kilos of cocaine along with many other illicit drugs, dozens of weapons including pistols, assault rifles, explosives, machine guns, hundreds of stolen motorcycles and more than 30 stolen cars. The drugs were destroyed while the police is charged with the task of return the stolen vehicles to their rightful owners. The losses suffered by the criminals are stated to surpass 200 million reais (around 120 million US dollars), not including the confisticated houses belonged to the faction's main leaders, fully equipped with many luxury items including multiple pools, jacuzis and high level electronic hardware.Through a deal between the State government and the Federal government, the troops will remain stationed in the occupied area until a permanent police force is installed to maintain security. Despite the fact that most of the criminals managed to escape, the operation is considered by the local media as a major victory against crime in Rio de Janeiro and a turning point in the war against drug trafficking in Brazil.
See also
- July 2006 São Paulo violenceJuly 2006 São Paulo violenceThe July 2006 São Paulo violence happened on 12 July 2006. Various buses, banks and police stations were shot and 5 people died. It is believed that the First Command of the Capital is behind the attacks.- See also :*May 2006 São Paulo violence...
- May 2006 São Paulo violence