The Military Police and representatives of the bus company union established a working group on Monday (25/08) after a meeting to discuss strategies to prevent the use of buses as barricades during police operations in Rio de Janeiro. This practice, widely adopted by drug traffickers, has become a routine form of retaliation against state security actions. According to a survey by Rio Ônibus, 100 buses have already been commandeered for this purpose in 2025 alone.
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Main Cases
Most of the incidents in July were concentrated on Avenida Edgard Romero, in Madureira, during an operation in Morro da Serrinha. Security cameras installed on buses captured the moment traffickers blocked streets with vehicles. The latest event took place on Ilha do Governador last week (18/08), prompting Monday’s meeting, which lasted more than an hour and involved both security officials and transport representatives.
50 buses
At least 50 buses were used in just a handful of major retaliations this year. One of the most serious episodes was in August, when 12 vehicles were hijacked and positioned as barricades during a police operation in Morro do Dendê, on Ilha do Governador. March recorded the highest number of cases, with 25 buses taken over by criminals. The figures later dropped, reaching zero in June, but emerged again in July with 22 incidents.
Proposals
Among the proposals discussed, the Military Police considered monitoring security cameras directly from inside buses. This, however, depends on the installation of internal cameras in the entire fleet, something not yet implemented in Rio. For now, the bus companies have agreed to share access to the cameras already operating on certain vehicles. In exchange, the Military Police committed to providing intelligence updates to drivers in real time, aiming to reduce risks and improve coordination during operations.
Analysis:
The recurring use of buses as barricades in Rio de Janeiro illustrates both the adaptability of criminal groups and the vulnerabilities in the city’s public transportation system. The figures for 2025 are particularly concerning, as the hijacking of 100 buses in less than a year demonstrates a consistent pattern of organized retaliation against police operations. Beyond the immediate disruption to mobility and public order, these actions increase the risks faced by passengers, drivers, and nearby residents, while also damaging the credibility of public security strategies.
The creation of a working group between the Military Police and the bus union is a step in the right direction, signaling recognition of the problem’s seriousness. However, the effectiveness of proposals such as real-time access to bus cameras will depend on overcoming technological and logistical limitations, including expanding surveillance coverage across the fleet. Without concrete measures to protect vehicles and ensure rapid coordination between drivers and security forces, the practice of commandeering buses will likely persist, undermining both urban mobility and broader efforts to reassert state authority in contested territories.
