Security scheme includes drones, facial recognition and plainclothes police on street blocks to combat theft and robbery
The government of Rio de Janeiro mobilizes 26,000 police officers exclusively for security in 2026, which began on Friday (13.Feb.2026). The security plan was presented, on Monday (Feb 9, 2026), by the state government and established a total of 12,000 military police officers operating throughout the state during the festive period, including civil police officers, firefighters and members of the Present Security program.
The security scheme will use technologies such as drones, facial recognition and video surveillance, as well as mobile command centers to coordinate operations. At Marquês de Sapucaí, more than 600 police officers will operate daily around and inside the Sambadrome during the parades.
The planning was drawn up after reports of thefts and robberies in recent weeks, both in street blocks and at the exit of the Sambadrome during the samba schools’ technical rehearsals. According to the PM secretary, Colonel Marcelo de Menezes, the rates decreased compared to the same period of the previous year.
Among the strategies for this year is the reinforcement of undercover policing in street blocks, with undercover police officers, some even in costume, to identify and arrest criminals in the act.
In Sapucaí, the PM will work together with Liesa (Liga Independente das Escolas de Samba), sharing information from the camera system to improve the response to possible incidents.
The PM informed that it will provide support to federal forces throughout the Carnival operation, reinforcing integration between the different security forces for the festive period.
