With the dizzying rise in violence due to organized crime in Brazil, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has taken drastic measures to combat this alarming situation. During a press conference at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, he announced the deployment of 3,700 military personnel in the country’s main ports and airports until May 2024.
The decision to mobilize the army aims to intensify police operations and arrests of suspects, as well as confiscate the assets of criminal gangs, particularly in Rio de Janeiro. The measure is a response to growing violence by powerful drug trafficking groups and self-defense militias that control parts of the country.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva considers that this violence constitutes a threat to the country’s national security. He therefore decided to call on the army to help Brazil free itself from the grip of drug and arms trafficking gangs. Through this operation, the government hopes to restore order and security in the affected areas.
However, the Brazilian president also made it clear that he did not want to send armed forces into favelas, working-class neighborhoods often controlled by militias and drug traffickers. He stressed that he did not want to repeat the mistakes of the past, where military interventions failed to pacify these areas.
Thus, the deployment of the military will mainly focus on the country’s ports and airports, notably the port of Santos, the largest in the country, as well as two ports of Rio and Itaguaï. The large airports of Guarulhos in Sao Paulo and Galeao in Rio will also be affected by this operation.
The objective of this mobilization is to strengthen security measures and facilitate the arrests of criminals and the seizure of their property. If necessary, additional reinforcements could be deployed to other ports and airports across the country to combat organized crime.
It is undeniable that violence linked to organized crime has become a major problem in Brazil. Attacks and violence by drug gangs and self-defense militias have become commonplace in some areas. It is therefore time for the Brazilian government to take firm measures to restore order and guarantee the safety of citizens.
The deployment of soldiers to ports and airports is an essential first step in the fight against organized crime. However, other long-term measures will also need to be considered to address the root causes of violence, such as poverty, social inequality and limited access to education and employment..
In conclusion, the mobilization of 3,700 military personnel in Brazil’s main ports and airports is a strong and necessary measure to combat violence linked to organized crime. This operation aims to intensify arrests and confiscation of criminals’ assets. However, it is also important to take long-term measures to address the roots of the problem and guarantee the safety of all Brazilian citizens.