An abandoned mansion in the Liberdade neighborhood, in downtown São Paulo, has become a hotspot for crack use. The concentration of users worries residents, who have filed several complaints with the city hall. Additionally, there are reports of thefts and harassment committed by drug users, as well as complaints about the trash they leave on the street. The issue is centered around number 343 on Rua dos Estudantes, one of the main streets in the area. The street connects Praça da Liberdade to Baixada do Glicério and is home to several restaurants, bars, and condominiums.
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How It Started
The situation reportedly began some time ago after a group of men invaded the mansion, but it has worsened over the past two years. Residents report seeing more than 30 users at the location where drug consumption takes place inside the building.
When They Are Not Using Drugs
When not inside using drugs, the addicts walk around the street pushing shopping carts, collecting scrap metal and cardboard to sell at a spot in front of the mansion. The money is then exchanged for drugs a few meters away in Glicério.
Police Actions
The Military Police carry out weekly operations at the location, expelling the drug users. However, within less than an hour, they return, and a lookout keeps watch for possible police approaches. The Metropolitan Civil Guard (GCM) is also frequently seen patrolling the area.
Harassment and Thefts
A resident reported being harassed and the target of a theft attempt by the users. She, along with other residents, files daily complaints with the municipal ombudsman. Employees of a nearby supermarket on Rua Conselheiro Furtado, a block away, say the store has been broken into several times by addicts.
Analysis:
The occupation of abandoned properties by drug addicts, such as the mansion in the Liberdade neighborhood, reflects a serious social and public security problem, common in urban areas of large cities such as São Paulo. It creates a scenario of vulnerability for both users and residents of the region. In addition to the direct impact of the increase in petty crimes, such as theft and harassment, the constant presence of drug addicts creates a greater feeling of insecurity.
The actions of security forces, such as the Military Police and the Metropolitan Civil Guard, although recurrent, seem insufficient to resolve the issue definitively. The dynamics of expelling and quickly returning users to the mansion highlight the complexity of the problem, which goes beyond specific interventions. The lack of more comprehensive public policies aimed at treating drug addiction and revitalizing urban spaces contributes to the perpetuation of this cycle.
Source: Folha de São Paulo.
