Brasília, November 1 (EFE). – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced this Wednesday that the Armed Forces will strengthen security in some ports and airports as well as at the country’s borders to strengthen the fight against terrorists and organized crime.
“We have reached a very serious situation, the violence has worsened and we have decided that the federal government will engage with all its potential” against all forms of organized crime, Lula said.
The decision was reflected in an announced decree that will remain in force until May 2024, but “will be renewed if necessary,” Lula himself made clear.
The announcement was made at a press conference attended by the heads of the air force, navy and federal police, as well as Justice Minister Flávio Dino and Defense Minister José Murcio, among others.
As explained, the armed forces will increase surveillance of borders, particularly with Bolivia and Paraguay, to prevent the importation of weapons and drugs, most of which enter the country by land and supply drug gangs in major Brazilian cities.
The decision was taken following successive episodes of violence in some cities across the country, most intense in Rio de Janeiro, where powerful drug trafficking gangs and parapolice organizations known as militias operate.
A week ago, these latest groups wreaked havoc in one part of the city by setting fire to 35 public transport buses to protest the death of one of their leaders at the hands of police.
In the case of Sao Paulo, Brazil’s most populous city, it is the main operating center of the First Capital Command (PCC), a prison-born organized crime gang that has expanded to other areas in recent years. South America countries.
The Navy’s operations will focus on the ports of Itaguaí and Rio de Janeiro, as well as the port of Santos and Lake Itaipú on the border with Paraguay.
In terms of airports, the reinforcement begins with the international airports Galeão in Rio de Janeiro and Guarulhos in São Paulo.
The government also decided that the military would expand its operations on the borders with Bolivia and Paraguay in the states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraná.
“These states have a logistical relationship with the gangs in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo,” said Justice Minister Flávio Dino, who indicated that the armed forces and federal authorities will provide around 3,700 soldiers for this entire operation.
In all cases, the military will work with local and regional security forces and other government agencies, such as the federal police and road police, among others.
According to Dino, ports, airports and borders are “strategic points” for fighting organized crime, as well as intelligence work to identify and dismantle the “financial networks” of these criminal gangs.