Public security forces operating in Rio de Janeiro have seized more than 4,000 rifles that were in the hands of criminals since 2015. The year marks the beginning of the historical series released by the Public Security Institute (ISP).
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According to the ISP, 4,136 high-caliber weapons were seized in nine years and three months. At the beginning of 2024 alone, that is, within 70 days, 154 rifles were seized. Officers recovered 62 rifles in January, 66 in February, and 26 rifles in the first 11 days of March.
Between 7 and 12 March alone, security forces have already seized 26 rifles. This number represents an average of more than five rifles seized every 24 hours.
Record number of seizures in 2023
The year 2023 was a milestone for public security forces operating in Rio de Janeiro. In total, police removed 610 rifles from circulation last year. This number represents the historical record for seizures of this type of weapon. ISP data indicates a 28% increase in the total number of high-caliber weapons seized, compared between 2022 and 2023.
City of Rio de Janeiro
The state capital was the region with the highest number of rifles seized in 2023. In total, the municipality had 376 high-caliber weapons seized. Baixada Fluminense had 152 rifles removed from circulation during the year.
Rifles behind wall
On Monday (11/03), military police found drugs and rifles behind a secret wall inside a house in Vila Aliança, in Bangu, West Zone of Rio.
At the scene, agents seized marijuana, two rifles, a pistol with a burst kit, radio transmitters, two vest covers, a piece of rifle, two prisoners, and an unaccounted quantity of cocaine.
In October 2023, a single operation by the Federal Police seized 47 rifles in a mansion in Barra da Tijuca, West Zone. It was one of the largest seizures of rifles in the capital.
Analysis:
The seizure of weapons, especially high-caliber weapons such as rifles, is a crucial measure aimed at significantly reducing the firepower of militias and criminal organizations that exercise dominance over areas considered sensitive due to their presence and the dynamics of conflicts in these regions. Communities in these areas often face significant challenges, including high levels of violence, clashes between rival factions, and the presence of paramilitary groups.
However, experts warn that the high number of rifles recovered from criminals does not necessarily indicate a decrease in the firepower of organized crime. On the contrary, the record number of rifle seizures suggests that the criminals who control part of the city are more armed than ever, possessing unprecedented military strength.
Seizing weapons, while a necessary action, must be complemented by additional efforts to dismantle the power structures of these criminal organizations and promote public safety policies that address the underlying causes of crime.
