Eleven buses hijacked on Tuesday (25/03) and seven on Thursday (27/03) were used to block key roads in the Engenho Novo neighborhood, North Zone, disrupting traffic and creating widespread chaos. According to the Military Police (PM), the hijackings were a direct response by criminals to the occupation of Morro São João by security forces. The main goal of the police operation is to prevent violent confrontations between rival factions from the São João and Macacos hills, whose turf war has intensified over the past year. After seizing the buses, the criminals left them abandoned in the middle of the streets without the ignition keys, making removal slow and complicated for the authorities.
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2024 Overview
Between January and October 2024, 97 buses were hijacked across Rio de Janeiro during police operations or protest actions. The highest concentrations of these incidents occurred in areas marked by chronic violence, such as Vila Aliança in Bangu (West Zone) and the neighborhoods of Cordovil and Ramos in the North Zone. These figures reflect the increasing targeting of public transportation infrastructure in the ongoing conflicts between organized crime groups and law enforcement.
Financial Losses
The month of May saw the most severe spike in attacks, with 19 buses hijacked, 211 vandalized, and one completely set on fire. These actions alone resulted in estimated losses of R$850,000 for that month. Throughout 2024, the Rio Ônibus union reported eight buses set on fire, 1,750 cases of vandalism, and 97 hijackings—bringing total financial losses to approximately R$22.6 million. Such attacks not only disrupt public transit but also impose a heavy economic burden on the transportation system and taxpayers.
Criminal Modus Operandi
The hijackings typically involve armed criminals intercepting buses and holding the drivers at gunpoint. The drivers are then forced to position the vehicles across major avenues that serve as access points to favelas under gang control. This tactic is used to physically block the movement of Military Police patrols, delaying or even preventing their entry into areas dominated by drug traffickers. These methods demonstrate how criminal factions use public infrastructure as a defensive tool in their territorial disputes with rival groups and state authorities.
Analysis:
The hijacking of buses in Rio de Janeiro as a tactical response by criminal factions highlights the evolving dynamics of urban conflict in the city. The incident in Engenho Novo, where criminals used public transportation to obstruct key roads, is part of a broader trend where organized crime exploits civilian infrastructure to counter police actions and protect their territories. The use of buses to block law enforcement movements is a deliberate strategy that not only disrupts mobility but also exerts psychological pressure on both authorities and civilians, reinforcing criminal control over certain areas.
Sources: O Globo [1], [2]; Agência Brasil; R7; G1.
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