The “flow” of drug users in Cracolândia, which previously had hundreds of individuals in the center of São Paulo, has decreased in recent days, but the City of São Paulo has not disclosed where they went. In the area near Luz station, including Gusmões, Andradas, Aurora, Santa Ifigênia, General Osório, and Vitória streets, no users were present on Tuesday (13/05), a stark contrast to the situation observed in January.
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Operation on Friday
An operation launched on Friday (09/05) included reinforcements from the Military Police (PM) and the Metropolitan Civil Guard (GCM), as well as the use of sniffer dogs to curb drug trafficking. It remains unclear, however, where the users went after the area was cordoned off. Although changes in the location of user “flows” are historically common, they typically relocate to other parts of downtown São Paulo.
Spread Throughout the City Center
With the main area of Cracolândia in São Paulo emptied, on Rua dos Protestantes, drug addicts have spread to various points in the city center. The neighborhoods like Luz, Sé, Campos Elíseos, Liberdade, Santa Cecília, and Bom Retiro have reported new “flows” in certain locations, along with many users wandering from street to street, though not in numbers comparable to the previous concentration in Cracolândia. One of the most critical points is under the Vinte e Cinco de Março Viaduct, where two groups of about 50 people openly use crack and other drugs in broad daylight. The tunnel under Praça Roosevelt has also attracted users. Residents nearby report that while the issue isn’t new, it has intensified over the past three weeks.
New Crowds
Emerging groups of users have been identified in areas such as Vila Maria (North Zone), Bresser-Mooca subway station (East Zone), and Largo de Santo Amaro (South Zone).
City Hall Celebrates
The administrations of Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB) and Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) have praised the decline in the number of people in Cracolândia. Nunes claims the reduction is due to increased care efforts and hospitalizations in health facilities. The city plans to maintain surveillance in the downtown area for several more days. Municipal Urban Security Secretary Orlando Morando stated that stronger enforcement by the Military Police and GCM, along with more hospitalizations and the beginning of the demolition of the Moinho favela, are the key reasons behind the drop in numbers in Cracolândia.
Analysis:
A recent shift in public security strategies in São Paulo’s Cracolândia reveals a concerning trend toward the dispersion and isolation of drug users rather than their care or rehabilitation. According to researcher Marcel Segalla and volunteer accounts, frequent aggressive actions, particularly by agents of the Metropolitan Civil Guard (GCM), have driven users away from Rua dos Protestantes, a key gathering point. The tactic of targeting larger groups appears aimed at fragmenting user networks, pushing individuals to circulate alone through the city center.
This approach, while potentially reducing the visibility of mass gatherings, may increase individual vulnerability and complicate access to health and social services. Isolated users are more difficult to locate and assist, which undermines the stated goal of connecting them with care and treatment. Rather than addressing the structural roots of addiction and homelessness, this tactic risks merely redistributing the issue across the urban landscape.
