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Figures from the Public Security Institute (ISP) of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) indicate that, from January to September this year, 593 rifles were seized in the state — a number that is equivalent to an average of more than two weapons per day. Without this military equipment, criminals lose control of the hills. But where do the rifles go?
In the column, delegate Vinícius Domingos, coordinator of the Weapons and Explosives Inspection Coordination of the (Cfae), detailed the routes taken by the weapons to their final destinations, after seizure.
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According to him, the correct thing would be for the rifles to be immediately placed in judicial custody after being seized. However, structural flaws prevent the script from being followed. Therefore, weapons are the responsibility of Cfae.
“We catalog the weapons and evaluate their quality. If they are good quality rifles, in good condition, similar to the standard used by police forces, a representation is made to the Court, which we call ‘loss of the firearm in favor of the State'”, he detailed.
After the request, part of the weapons is returned to police use, while the rest is kept for judicial investigation purposes.
“For example, a person who was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm on the street and there is a video that shows them armed, then the equipment is stored to be submitted, for example, to a subsequent image examination, which proves that it was, in fact, that weapon.”
With judicial authorization, the weapons are taken to be destroyed by the Army approximately three years after seizure. In homicide cases, the deadline is longer.
“When weapons are involved in homicides, we keep them for up to 10 years, because this is a crime that, although it shouldn’t, takes a few years to reach trial. Almost every week we take a quantity of weapons for destruction in the Army”, he concluded.
How do they get to Brazil
Although there are different entry methods, land transport is still preferred.
The Cfae points to the border with Paraguay and the Amazon region, on the border with Peru, Colombia and Venezuela, as the main entry points for foreign weapons.
“In fact, a large part of them are diverted from the regular Army forces of these countries”, commented Domingos.
The combat
Given this scenario, to try to contain the flow of weapons, it is necessary, in the coordinator’s opinion, to act on legislation.
“We understand, at Cfae, that the border is really a problem, but not the main one, because it is difficult to solve”, he analyzed.
For him, it is necessary to modernize legislation not only to discourage criminals’ interest in arms trafficking, but also to ensure that those convicted serve adequate sentences and serve as an example of what is not allowed in the country.
