Much of it is concentrated in regions where there is a dispute over territory between rival criminal factions.
This week, the State Secretariat of Military Police of Rio de Janeiro surpassed the mark of 600 rifles seized throughout Rio de Janeiro in 2024. In total, 603 weapons of war were recovered by Military Police units. The number is higher than the record number of seizures of this type of weapon recorded in 2019, when there were 505.
“It is an impressive number, which shows the military power of criminals and the scenario in which our brave police officers operate daily. Rio does not produce rifles. We will continue to demand that the federal government act more rigorously on our borders and borders to prevent these weapons with high lethality from continuing to enter our State.”said Governor Cláudio Castro, also citing the award that has already paid R$2.5 million in bonuses to police officers for the seizure of rifles.
The most recent took place on Wednesday morning (Dec 4), during an action by the 39th BPM (Belford Roxo), in Baixada Fluminense. According to the unit’s command, the weapon, which is a Colt M4 cal 5.56 model, was abandoned after an attempt to approach a group of men suspected of stealing cars, in the Santa Tereza region.
The number also exceeded the total number of seizures in 2023, when the Military Police totaled 492 seizures of this type of weapon. In the month of August alone, there were 78 rifles, which is equivalent to two rifles per day.
A study carried out by the Undersecretariat of Intelligence of the Military Police Secretariat shows that more than 90% of these weapons are manufactured in other countries. Most of the seizures are concentrated in the Integrated Public Security Areas of regions where there is a dispute over territory between rival criminal factions, such as the regions of Complexo do Chapadão, Vila Kennedy, Jacarepaguá and Campinho.
The 41st BPM (Irajá), responsible for patrolling the communities of Complexo da Pedreira, Chapadão, Colégio and Acari, is the operational unit with the highest number of seizures (99 rifles). Next comes the Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE), which operates throughout the state with strategic actions that require the employment of troops trained to operate in conflagrated areas.
“The Military Police will spare no effort and will continue working to remove these criminals and their weapons of war from the streets. The seizure of so many rifles is a significant result and demonstrates our commitment to dismantling the gangs and guaranteeing and returning a sense of security to the population of our State”said the Secretary of State for Military Police, Marcelo de Menezes Nogueira.
Data from the Undersecretariat of Intelligence also shows that many of these rifles enter the country or the State separately in parts and are assembled by gunsmiths involved with criminal organizations.
International arms trafficking represents one of the biggest challenges for the public security area in Rio de Janeiro. According to data from the Public Security Institute, in the first months of the year alone, 642 long weapons were collected by the police, an increase of 22% compared to the same period in 2023, an average of two seizures per day.
The numbers still do not consider the weapons seized throughout the month of November by the State Secretariat of Military Police.
Here are the 10 units of the State Secretariat of Military Police that lead the ranking of rifle seizures in 2024:
- 41st BPM (Irajá) – 99 rifles;
- BOPE – 61 rifles;
- 14th BPM (Bangu) – 56 rifles;
- 15th BPM (Duque de Caxias) – 50 rifles;
- 18th BPM (Jacarepaguá) – 48 rifles;
- 20° BPM (Mosque) – 30 rifles;
- 39° BPM (Belford Roxo) – 24 rifles;
- 9th BPM (Rocha Miranda) – 24 rifles;
- 21st BPM (São João de Meriti) – 22 rifles; and
- 16th BPM (Pottery) – 18 rifles.
With information from .
