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Between 2023 and 2025, Acre recorded 461 homicides. Of this total, almost half — 211 — were caused by the war between criminal factions operating in the state. The numbers are available on the Civil Police statistical panel.
The panel’s analysis indicates that the war between factions already reaches practically the entire territory of Acre./Photo: advisory/ PCAC.
Among the years analyzed, 2023 presented the highest number of occurrences, with 88 homicides linked to factions. The following year, there was a 25% reduction in cases of this nature, with 66 deaths recorded.
In 2025, so far, the state has already recorded 57 murders attributed to disputes between criminal groups, which represents a momentary reduction of 14% compared to the previous year.
The survey also shows that 37% of crimes — equivalent to 173 cases — were committed with the use of a firearm.
The panel’s analysis indicates that the war between factions already reaches practically the entire territory of Acre. More than half of the state’s municipalities recorded this type of crime. Rio Branco leads with 145 murders, followed by Cruzeiro do Sul (18) and Brasiléia (9).
As for the profile of the victims, the majority are men: 206 of those killed were male, while five were women.
Furthermore, the number of cases could be even higher. According to the panel, another 125 homicides remain under investigation and can be attributed to the war between factions.
Strategic route
As a strategic trafficking route, Acre became a target of dispute for criminal organizations mainly because it is close to another known crime route: the Solimões route. In an interview with ContilNet Last year, the prosecutor and coordinator of Gaeco (Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime) of the Public Ministry of Acre, Bernardo Albano, explained that from 2016 onwards, clashes over control not only of the state, but of the entire Northern Region, intensified.
It was precisely in 2016, with the death of drug trafficker Jorge Toumani, that the PCC dominated the so-called Rota Caipira, which connects Paraguay and Southeast Brazil. With the advance, the rival faction needed to find other paths and found an alternative in Acre.
“Acre borders two of the world’s largest drug producers, Peru and Bolivia. It is in a very strategic position, as a logistical corridor for the flow of this drug”, said the GAECO coordinator.
However, the faction that predominates in Acre and is already stealing space from the PCC, is the Red Command. “It appears to be the Criminal Organization with the greatest advantage and majority. Acre still has the PCC and Bonde dos 13, but in most of the state there is a predominance of the CV and we have been observing an expansion”, he said.
Peru is the focus
Still in the interview, the GAECO coordinator highlighted that with the expansion of territory in Acre, the Red Command is starting to target the border and wants to advance into Peru.
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“There is an interest in cross-border regions, mainly in Peru, in co-opting both Brazilians and Peruvians in production areas,” said Albano.
A possible confrontation
A recent study “Cartographies of violence in the Amazon”, released by the Brazilian Public Security Forum in 2023, had already warned about factions not only from Peru, but from Venezuela and Colombia, advancing on Acre. The information worries State Public Security about possible clashes with local criminal organizations, which compete in the Legal Amazon region.
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The data revealed that in a total of 772 municipalities covering the Legal Amazon, at least 22 organized crime factions are operating, highlighting the magnitude of the challenge faced by security authorities in the region. The report highlights that 24% of all municipalities in the Legal Amazon, a total of 178, have a confirmed presence of criminal factions and 80 are in territorial dispute, where around 8.3 million people live.
