The Ministry of Justice and Public Security has extended the deployment of the National Public Security Force in Rio de Janeiro for another 90 days. The measure was formalized through Ordinance No. 1,252, published on Thursday (02/07) in the Federal Official Gazette, ensuring the federal contingent remains in the state until September 27, 2026. The decision followed a new request from the Rio de Janeiro State Government, which submitted a technical report to the Ministry of Justice supporting the continuation of the operation. The authorization allows the National Force to continue assisting state and federal security agencies in efforts aimed at maintaining public order and protecting the population.
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Operational Support
Under the new authorization, National Force personnel will continue supporting policing and patrol operations at strategic locations, particularly along Rio de Janeiro’s main expressways, including Avenida Brasil, Linha Vermelha, and Linha Amarela. These corridors have long been affected by frequent armed confrontations, cargo theft, and attacks targeting motorists. According to the ordinance signed by Justice Minister Wellington César Lima e Silva, the operation will remain under the coordination of the Federal Police, working jointly with Rio de Janeiro’s public security agencies. The size of the deployed contingent will continue to be determined by the National Secretariat of Public Security and the National Force Directorate based on operational requirements.
Since 2023
The National Force has been operating in Rio de Janeiro since October 2023. At that time, the state government requested federal reinforcement in response to escalating violence and a series of attacks carried out by organized criminal groups. Approximately 150 officers and 40 patrol vehicles were initially deployed to participate in joint operations alongside the Military Police, Federal Police, Federal Highway Police, and other security agencies. Since then, the deployment has been renewed periodically by the federal government, with the previous extension having been authorized in April 2026.
National Force
Created in 2004, the National Public Security Force operates as a cooperative program between the federal government and the states. Its personnel include military police officers, firefighters, civil police officers, and forensic experts temporarily assigned by state governments to respond to exceptional situations, including public security crises, major law enforcement operations, natural disasters, and large-scale public events.
Analysis:
The extent of the National Public Security Force’s deployment reflects the federal government’s assessment that Rio de Janeiro continues to face security challenges that exceed the capacity of routine state policing. Repeated renewals since 2023 indicate that the mission has evolved from an emergency response into a medium-term security strategy focused on supporting operations in areas with persistent criminal activity. This also demonstrates the increasing reliance on intergovernmental cooperation to address threats posed by heavily armed organized crime groups.
Concentrating the National Force along major transportation corridors is strategically significant because these routes are essential for both economic activity and public mobility. Expressways such as Avenida Brasil, Linha Vermelha, and Linha Amarela have become recurring targets for cargo theft, vehicle robberies, and armed confrontations due to their proximity to communities controlled by criminal organizations.
