RIO DE JANEIRO SECURITY INCIDENTS – MAY MONTHLY BULLETIN

One of the main sources of profit for organized crime in the state, the illegal sale of internet services has come under police scrutiny. The Undersecretariat of Intelligence of the Public Security Secretariat reported on Tuesday that it had identified more than one hundred locations in the Rio Metropolitan Region where this type of business is exploited by criminal groups with the help of companies working for drug traffickers and militias. Meanwhile, some residents of areas near these communities have opted to connect to the internet via satellite to escape the criminals’ actions. Most of the more than one hundred locations identified by the intelligence sector of the Security Secretariat are located in communities in the city of Rio, in the Baixada Fluminense region, and also in São Gonçalo. In areas dominated by criminals, official companies are prohibited from carrying out maintenance or new installations. From there, illegal groups begin to exploit internet and cable TV services, among others. In the Muzema and Rio das Pedras areas of Itanhangá, and in Gardênia Azul, Jacarepaguá, alone, the department identified 18 companies exploiting the service. The first and third areas are controlled by drug traffickers, while the second is under the control of the militia. It is estimated that criminal groups collect R$ 3 million monthly from this illegal business. In the state of Rio, in just the first four months of the year, vehicles and even company facilities in the sector were set on fire by criminals in Cachoeiras de Macacu, Japeri, Paracambi, and Maricá, in the Metropolitan Region. Points of this illicit activity were identified in at least 37 of the state’s 92 municipalities.

A groundbreaking study released on Wednesday (20), reveals that 73% of residents in Rio’s major favelas (Maré, Rocinha, Alemão, Penha) reject local police operations. According to the survey of 4,080 residents, 95% believe these raids fail to improve safety, and 91% report police misconduct. Furthermore, 78% of respondents fear the police during incursions compared to 41% who fear armed gangs, while 85% firmly oppose the recurrence of ultra-lethal operations like the October 2025 raid that left 122 dead.

By May 2026, the Rio de Janeiro Military Police intelligence unit had seized 316 assault rifles, with 90% recovered from territories controlled by the CV and TCP criminal factions. A total of 177 of these battlefield weapons were manufactured in the U.S., alongside models from Germany and Israel. Used by gangs to secure turf and drive cargo theft, tracking this arsenal remains vital for police, who have also recovered R$ 20 million in stolen goods this year.

The recently published Atlas da Violência report revealed that Rio de Janeiro holds Brazil’s third-highest absolute number of youth homicides, with 1,714 victims aged 15–29 killed in 2024. Paradoxically, Rio also achieved the country’s sharpest absolute drop in overall murders between 2023 and 2024, though its death rate (20.4 per 100k) remains just above the national average. Experts note this decline reflects a shift in organized crime, which now prioritizes armed territorial control and extortion over lethal clashes.

01/05/2026 – Rio’s Força Municipal arrested 45 suspects for robbery, theft, and receiving stolen goods during the long holiday weekend from Friday (1^st) to Sunday (3). Notable incidents included the apprehension of a teenager specialized in burglarizing luxury condominiums in the South Zone (Jardim de Alah) while carrying break-in tools. In the North Zone, agents captured a motorcyclist armed with a pistol who had just robbed a pedestrian, recovering the victim’s jewelry and cell phone.

01/05/2026 – On Friday (1^st), a robbery attempt turned into a shootout on Maricá Street, Campinho, North Rio, when a motorcyclist resisted two armed attackers. After being struck and forced to the ground, the man fought one of the criminals and managed to seize his weapon. He then opened fire on the assailants, who fled despite the gunshots.

02/05/2026 – Shakira’s free mega-concert in Copacabana, which drew approximately 2 million people on Saturday (2), concluded with a positive security report. According to the Rio government, the 115 reported incidents represent a 52% decrease compared to Lady Gaga’s concert (2025) and a 54% drop compared to Madonna’s (2024). Despite 66 phone thefts and 6 arrests, authorities reported no serious incidents, praising the effectiveness of the 8,000-officer deployment and facial recognition technology.

03/05/2026 – Civil Police released on Sunday (3) the information that a strategic alliance had been formed between the Comando Vermelho (CV) and the Amigos dos Amigos (ADA) faction in the city’s West Zone. Intercepted messages between Carlos da Costa Neves (Gardenal), a key CV operative, and a militia member reveal an agreement allowing the CV to use the Jardim Novo community (Realengo) as a “corridor” to launch attacks on rival territories in Bangu, Campo Grande, and Santa Cruz. In exchange, the local ADA leader, Lucas Apostólico (Índio), receives CV protection. This alliance facilitates the CV’s expansion toward highly sought-after areas like Rio das Pedras.

03/05/2026 – On Sunday evening (3), violent clashes broke out between fans following the 2-2 draw between Flamengo and Vasco at the Maracanã. Members of organized fan groups fought with iron bars and wooden sticks in the Tijuca neighborhood, leaving two Vasco supporters unconscious and bleeding on the street. Military Police arrested ten fans and used tear gas to disperse the rioters, while the victims were hospitalized in stable condition.

04/05/2026 – On Monday (4), Civil Police launched a major operation in the Complexo de São Carlos in the Estácio neighborhood, and in São Paulo, targeting a Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP) cell specialized in cell phone theft and financial fraud. The gang stole high-end devices in Rio’s Central and South Zones, then used accomplices in São Paulo to unlock them and access victims’ bank accounts for fraudulent transactions. The operation resulted in 6 arrests, one suspect killed, and the recovery of 75 iPhones, along with various weapons and vehicles.

04/05/2026 – On Monday (4), Penal Police recaptured a 30-year-old man near Complexo do Chapadão in Anchieta, North Zone. Accused of participating in the 2016 murder of a Navy corporal during a robbery in Cascadura, he had been a fugitive since May 2025 after failing to return to prison following a temporary family visit release. His arrest was achieved through intelligence monitoring and anonymous tips.

05/05/2026 – On Tuesday (5), a joint operation by Civil and Military police in Complexo da Maré (Nova Holanda) led to the temporary closure of the Linha Vermelha expressway. Trapped by intense shootouts and attempts by drug users to block the road, many drivers abandoned their cars on the highway to seek cover, with some even taking refuge inside a nearby police battalion. The operation, targeting an illegal weapons ring, resulted in one death and 12 arrests, while nine bus lines were forced to divert their routes.

05/05/2026 – On Tuesday (5), Bope officers discovered a drug trafficking camp in Morro do Borel, in Tijuca, North Zone, during an operation to suppress territorial disputes. The site served as a logistical base for storing weapons and drugs, as well as a strategic point for clashes between the Comando Vermelho and Terceiro Comando Puro factions. The elite unit intervened to prevent imminent fighting between criminals from Borel and the Casa Branca area, ensuring the safety of local residents.

05/05/2026 – The Federal Police arrested State Deputy Thiago Rangel this Tuesday (5), during the fourth phase of “Operation Unha e Carne”. The action aims to dismantle a criminal organization suspected of massive fraud in renovation contracts and equipment procurement within the State Education Department. The investigation targets a scheme that funneled public funds to companies linked to the group, also involving former deputy Rodrigo Bacellar. In total, 7 arrest warrants and 23 search warrants were issued by the Supreme Court.

08/05/2026 –Federal Police agents at Rio de Janeiro International Airport arrested a 19-year-old man on Friday (08) afternoon for transporting approximately one hundred bottles of weight-loss medication and 50 bottles of anabolic steroids. The arrested man, originally from Brasília, was apprehended as he disembarked from a commercial flight from Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná.

10/05/2026 – A man was arrested Sunday (10) night at Galeão Airport after disembarking from a commercial flight from Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná. He was carrying weight-loss medications — tirrizepatide and retartitida — and vials of anabolic steroids.

11/05/2026 – Robber killed and another injured after attempted robbery against police officers in Pavuna. On Monday afternoon (11), two police officers were approached by criminals on a motorcycle in Pavuna, North Zone of Rio. The bandits tried to rob the police officers, who reacted with gunfire. One criminal died at the scene and the other (“Prejudicado”) was taken to the Getúlio Vargas State Hospital, in Penha, in serious condition. The Military Police confirm that it was an attempted robbery of an armed police officer.

11/05/2026 – A trans woman sentenced to more than six years in prison for stealing cell phones from tourists and patrons of Rio de Janeiro’s nightlife was arrested again by the Civil Police this Monday (11), in Lapa, in the Center of Rio. According to investigators, she was part of a gang specialized in acting in disguise to steal belongings from victims in areas of high nighttime circulation. According to the agents, the group approached victims with seemingly friendly approaches, such as asking for cigarettes, conversations and hugs, to distract tourists and patrons while the thefts were committed.

15/05/2026 – The Civil Police apprehended, this Friday (15), six of eight teenagers investigated for participation in the gang rape of a 12-year-old girl in Campo Grande, in the West Zone of Rio. According to the corporation, the minors were located in the neighborhoods of Campo Grande and Santíssimo during an operation by the Special Police Station for Women (Deam) of Campo Grande, with the support of the Child and Adolescent Protection Police Station (DPCA). Two other teenagers are still being sought.

15/05/2026 – On Friday (15), a military police officer was arrested in Campo Grande, in the West Zone, under suspicion of executing his wife’s lover in late February 2026. The Homicide Police Station’s investigation points to a crime of passion, supported by security footage incriminating the suspect. During the arrest, officers seized a firearm and the clothing worn on the day of the murder. The officer has been detained.

16/05/2026 – A military police officer was shot during an exchange of gunfire with suspects on Saturday morning (16), in Rio Comprido, in the Central Zone of Rio. According to the Military Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro, agents from the 4th BPM (São Cristóvão) were carrying out a tactical encirclement to approach two men on a motorcycle when they were attacked. According to the corporation, the suspects fired at the police officers, who reacted. During the confrontation, an agent was hit and taken to the Central Hospital of the Military Police (HCPM).

16/05/2026 – On Saturday morning (16), the body of 45-year-old accountant Sérgio da Silva Ferreira Júnior was found dead on a Lapa sidewalk in Central Rio, stripped of his documents, sneakers, and phone. Security footage captured the victim walking with visible difficulty alongside two women shortly before his death. Immediately after, his stolen smartphone was used to attempt bank logins and conduct Google searches on how to withdraw cash without a card.

17/05/2026 – A woman died after being hit by a stray bullet during a confrontation between military police and criminals on Clarimundo de Melo Street in Quintino, in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro. Isabel Santos de Souza was taken to the Salgado Filho Municipal Hospital in Méier, but did not survive her injuries. According to the Military Police, officers from the 9th Battalion (Rocha Miranda) were attacked during a patrol by a group of armed men on three motorcycles. A confrontation ensued, and after the shooting stopped, the officers were informed that a woman had been hit by a stray bullet.

18/05/2026 – On Monday morning (18), BOPE elite officers rescued a woman held hostage by her armed partner in Pavuna, North Zone. The suspect had broken into the residence at 5:00, threatened to kill her, and forced her to call a friend to say goodbye. As police surrounded the property, the gunman escaped by jumping out a window and fled. The victim was rescued in a state of shock and taken to receive medical care.

19/05/2026 – During the early hours of Tuesday (19), a group of six foreign tourists (four Americans and two Russians) was targeted by criminals on motorcycles after leaving a samba event at Pedra do Sal in the Saúde neighborhood, in Rio’s Port Zone. Around 3:00, a taxi carrying the American tourists was intercepted on the Paulo de Frontin Overpass by motorcyclists who stole their belongings and assaulted one victim, leaving him with facial injuries that required hospitalization. Hours later, the two Russian tourists were also ambushed and robbed of their cell phones while walking back to their downtown hotel. The Military Police searched the area but located no suspects.

19/05/2026 – On Tuesday (19), a highly dangerous fugitive was arrested in Rio das Pedras, West Zone, during a joint operation between Rio and São Paulo Civil Police. The suspect used dating apps to lure victims, gain their trust, and drug them inside their homes with spiked food or drinks, following the “Boa noite, Cinderela” scheme. While his victims were unconscious (in one case, for five consecutive days) the man executed unauthorized bank transfers, took out loans, made credit card purchases, and stole high-value electronics and luxury goods. He is also being investigated for sexual assault. Utilizing over 40 phone lines, fake IDs, and third-party bank accounts to evade the law, the suspect already held active arrest warrants in São Paulo and Santa Catarina for robbery, extortion, and statutory rape. He was caught with drugs, counterfeit documents, and controlled substances.

19/05/2026 – On Tuesday (19), a 15-year-old student suffered a broken jaw and broken teeth after being brutally assaulted by another female student outside a municipal school in Rio’s Jardim Bangu neighborhood, West Zone. The attack, captured on a viral social media video, shows the victim being thrown to the ground and repeatedly struck until other classmates intervened. While the family revealed that the teenager had been facing severe bullying and threats for months, the Municipal Department of Education condemned the assault, announced the attacker’s transfer, and opened an internal inquiry alongside the Child Guardianship Council.

20/05/2026 – On Wednesday night (20), Rio Civil Police arrested the second-in-command of the Comando Vermelho criminal faction from the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The drug kingpin was intercepted just outside the Maracanã Stadium as he was about to enter to watch a soccer match. Tracked by intelligence units while hiding out in the Rocinha and Complexo do Alemão favelas, the fugitive frequently used social media to flaunt a lavish lifestyle of luxury jewelry and parties despite an active arrest warrant for drug trafficking.

20/05/2026 – On Wednesday evening (20), a gang attack against rival drug traffickers left one man dead and three others wounded, including two women and an infant, in Rio’s Costa Barros neighborhood, North Zone. Alerted by the arrival of the four gunshot victims at a local emergency care unit, the Military Police confirmed that one adult male had succumbed to his injuries. The one-year-old baby, who was shot in the back with the bullet remaining lodged in the body, was transferred to the Albert Schweitzer Municipal Hospital, in an area long plagued by violent territorial turf wars.

21/05/2026 – On Thursday (21), the Federal Police launched “Operation Fortuito 4” to dismantle a global financial pyramid and money laundering scheme operating in Brazil, Ukraine, and Japan. Officers executed search warrants and restrictive measures across Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, freezing R$ 300 million in assets, including luxury real estate and boats registered under straw buyers. The investigation, which stemmed from a 2024 arrest in Rio, exposed identity fraud and a highly structured international criminal network, with suspects now facing severe financial system and organized crime charges.

21/05/2026 – On Thursday (21), Rio police revealed that the Comando Vermelho faction in Complexo do Alemão, North Zone, acquired large agricultural drones worth over R$ 200,000, capable of airlifting up to 80 kg of cargo, equivalent to 20 assault rifles, over 12 kilometers. To master this technology, traffickers received tactical flight training from a Brazilian mercenary who recently returned from fighting in the Ukraine war. This operational upgrade allows organized crime to completely bypass police checkpoints on the ground, radically transforming their military logistics from one favela to another.

21/05/2026 – On Thursday morning, May 21, 2026, 59-year-old businessman Sérgio André de Souza Duarte was shot dead as he arrived at his restaurant and inn “Marambaia Beach”, in the Barra de Guaratiba neighborhood, Rio’s West Zone. Two men on a black motorcycle ambushed him and opened fire before fleeing with the victim’s cell phone. The Capital Homicides Division (DHC) recovered five spent shell casings near the body and is investigating the murder of the merchant, locally known as “Parafuso”, who had previously run as an alternate candidate in the 2024 city council elections.

21/05/2026 – On Tuesday night (21), a law student was brutally beaten by nearly ten Fluminense hooligans at Praça Varnhagen near the Maracanã Stadium. While waiting for a ride-share vehicle after a Copa Libertadores match, the young man, who ironically supports the same team, was ambushed and later required facial plastic surgery to repair his injuries. The Police have already identified two of the attackers, both of whom have prior criminal records for robbery and drug trafficking.

21/05/2026 – On Thursday afternoon (21), an intense shootout between rival drug factions erupted in Morro da Babilônia, Leme, terrorizing local residents who reported “half an hour of continuous gunfire”. The violence forced authorities to close Avenida Carlos Peixoto near the Rio Sul shopping mall, causing major traffic diversions throughout Rio’s South Zone. Three Military Police battalions, including the local UPP, were deployed to reinforce security in the community, and no casualties have been reported.

21/05/2026 – On Thursday afternoon (21), a man was shot dead inside a vehicle on Estrada Marechal Miguel Salazar Mendes de Moraes in Taquara, Southwest Zone. A woman was also wounded during the criminal attack. Officers from the Military Police were dispatched to the scene, where they discovered the man’s body inside the car. The injured woman received medical care.

22/05/2026 – On Friday morning (22), the Rio Civil Police launched a major operation against the Comando Vermelho in Complexo do Lins, triggering intense firefights across the community. Supported by armored vehicles and helicopters, the raid has led to two arrests while targeting the faction’s drug trafficking, robbery, and extortion network. Simultaneously, agents are cracking down on a “fake bank call center” scam run in partnership with criminals in Piauí, while local suspects monitored police movements in real-time.

22/05/2026 – In the early hours of Friday (22), a massive brawl involving Argentine tourists broke out on Atlântica Avenue in Copacabana, causing widespread chaos near Posto 4. The physical altercation, which started around 3:00 AM, saw individuals exchanging punches and kicks on both the sidewalk and the main street, briefly bringing traffic to a standstill and frightening nearby residents and passersby. According to witnesses, the violence erupted following a suspected cell phone theft targeting one of the tourists.

22/05/2026 – On Friday (22), a scammer was arrested red-handed by Civil Police while executing a fake pest-control service inside a luxury apartment in Leblon. Operating through a front company that charged exorbitant fees for bogus monthly maintenance, the criminal ring had already defrauded this single victim out of R$ 118,000. Upon his arrest, investigators linked him to another active case in the same upscale neighborhood, where an 80-year-old man was scammed out of R$ 79,000.

22/05/2026 – On Friday (22), a water utility technician was arrested for attempted murder after intentionally running over and beating a customer during a service cutoff dispute in Quintino, North Rio. After the homeowner struck the company vehicle’s windshield with a wooden stick, the employee retaliated by driving onto the sidewalk, pinning the victim against a wall, and kicking him seven times while he was down.

23/05/2026 – On Saturday night (23), a taxi driver was arrested in Copacabana after attempting to charge a German tourist couple an outrageous R$ 3,400 for a ride that actually cost R$ 40. The victims spotted the scam and immediately alerted Military Police officers patrolling Atlântica Avenue. The driver was detained, his vehicle and card readers were seized.

23/05/2026 – On Saturday night (23), a 42-year-old woman was shot in the chest and killed during a botched motorcycle robbery on Estrada do Itanhangá, Southwest Zone. The driver of the motorcycle fought back against the armed suspect, causing the pistol to discharge and strike the female passenger, who later died at Lourenço Jorge Hospital. Nearby citizens subdued and beat the male and female suspects before police arrived to arrest them red-handed.

24/05/2026 – On Sunday night (24), Civil Police arrested a top financial operator for the TCP criminal faction inside a luxury restaurant in Recreio, West zone. The suspect allegedly laundered R$ 5 million in drug money over recent months by promoting clandestine online gambling platforms on social media to mask illicit funds. Caught red-handed, he was charged with criminal association and illegal gambling, and his seized electronic devices will be analyzed to identify further accomplices.

24/05/2026 – On Sunday night (24), Vasco’s 3-0 defeat against Bragantino triggered violent clashes inside and outside São Januário stadium, in the Vasco da Gama neighborhood, North Zone. Outside, Military Police used rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse rioting fans fighting in the streets and attempting to breach the perimeter. Inside, security guards managed to block a group trying to storm the press room, and no injuries or arrests have been officially reported so far.

25/05/2026 – On Monday morning (25), a major Military Police operation in Rio’s Vila Kennedy community forced the closure of 16 municipal schools and two healthcare facilities due to safety risks. The raid targeted criminal networks involved in vehicle theft and illegal chop shops, prompting tactical deployments from the Expressway Policing Battalion (BPVE) along Avenida Brasil. During the clearing operations, officers successfully seized an assault rifle.

26/05/2026 – On Tuesday morning (26), a Military Police raid in the Complexo do Chapadão, in the Pavuna neighborhood, North Zone, left five suspects dead and three arrested following a heavy shootout. Officers from the 41st BPM intercepted the criminals as they attempted to flee the community during an operation aimed at curbing violent turf wars between rival drug factions. The five wounded suspects died at Carlos Chagas Hospital, and police successfully seized three assault rifles, a pistol, and narcotics.

26/05/2026 – On Tuesday (26), former Rio de Janeiro Governor Cláudio Castro was targeted by a Federal Police search warrant for the second time in less than 15 days. Following a May 15 raid over tax fraud tied to the Refit refinery, this new Supreme Court-authorized operation investigates the suspicious allocation of R$ 3 billion in public pension funds into Banco Master. These criminal probes hit Castro following his March resignation amid an electoral court ruling that declared him ineligible for office.

27/05/2026 – On Wednesday morning (27), an AR/M4 assault rifle worth R$ 60,000 was seized by Military Police in the Boogie Woogie community on Ilha do Governador. The military-grade weapon was uncovered inside an abandoned building thanks to Gotze, a skilled Labrador retriever from the K-9 Actions Battalion (BAC). The successful recovery is part of a special ops sweep targeting local gang arsenals across several neighboring favelas.

27/05/2026 – On Wednesday (27), a woman was arrested in Senador Camará, West Zone, for masterminding the murder of her father, who was shot dead last March in front of his 8-year-old daughter. Investigators revealed the suspect and her fugitive boyfriend targeted the victim due to a bitter property dispute and grievances over the death of their pet dog. Security footage captured the boyfriend walking armed to the crime scene, while audio recordings caught the daughter stating she would only find peace once her father was dead.

27/05/2026 – On Wednesday night (27), an off-duty Military Police officer thwarted a robbery and shot the suspect in Vicente de Carvalho neighborhood, North Zone. The officer was passing by when he witnessed a motorcyclist attempting to mug a woman on Bernardo Taveira Street. The wounded criminal was rushed to the Hospital under guard and, upon discharge, was booked at the 27th Police Precinct, where he remains in custody.

27/05/2026 – On Wednesday night (27), a 35-year-old cyclist was stabbed in the back and arms during a violent electric bicycle robbery near Posto 2 on Rio’s Flamengo Beach. After pedestrians alerted the Municipal Guard’s Special Operations Group (GOE), officers administered first aid until firefighters rushed the severely injured victim to the Hospital. While a joint effort by guards and military police successfully recovered and seized the stolen e-bike, the suspects managed to escape and remain at large.

27/05/2026 – On Wednesday (27), a confrontation between Brazilian and Argentine football fans triggered a large police response and disrupted traffic along Rio’s Leme Beach, in front of hotel Hilton. The clash, involving around 30 Barracas Central supporters hours before a Copa Sudamericana match against Vasco, reportedly began after street vendors accused the foreigners of using counterfeit bills. Groups armed with pipes and stones were ultimately contained by military police, who escorted the Argentine fans onto a bus, resulting in no injuries or arrests.

28/05/2026 – On Thursday morning (28), a prison guard under internal investigation triggered a shootout at the entrance of the Gericinó Penitentiary Complex after fleeing a routine search. The guard was about to start his shift at the Nelson Hungria prison (Bangu 7) when he refused the inspection and sped off in his car. Gate security officers opened fire on the vehicle’s tires in an attempt to block his escape; no injuries were reported, and the suspect remains at large.

28/05/2026 – On Thursday (28), Military Police Warrant Officer André Luiz Cardoso Eccard was killed, and three officers were wounded during a rifle ambush on Rua Virgínia Vidal, near the Covanca community in the Tanque neighborhood, Southwest zone. The 18th BPM patrol was blindsided on Virgínia Vidal Street by two criminals on a motorcycle who opened fire, striking three of the officers in the head. While the survivors were hospitalized, the 49-year-old warrant officer succumbed to his wounds, and the suspects remain at large.

29/05/2026 – On Friday morning (29), elite Military Police BOPE unit launched a major raid in the Morro da Caixa D’Água favela, in the Tanque neighborhood, following Thursday’s fatal ambush that killed Warrant Officer André Luiz Cardoso Eccard and injured three officers. The operation aims to track down the gang members behind territorial turf wars and targeted attacks on law enforcement. While two of the wounded officers have been discharged, a third remains in critical condition at Souza Aguiar Hospital after undergoing head surgery, and no arrests have been reported.

TRENDS & ADVICE

• Mass robberies and thefts in tourist spots are some of the most notorious security risks in Rio de Janeiro, especially in the city’s South Zone.
• When moving through crowded places and their vicinities, visitors should be cautious and refrain from exposing valuables.
• Avoid any display of wealth (jewelry, cell phones), but always carry a small amount of money (R$50) to hand over to muggers.
  • In case of robbery: cooperate, do not try to run after the assailant as he or she might not be alone or turn violent.
• Rio is famous for its favelas, and most are affected by the presence of gangs. Disputes for territory between rivals and police operations lead to gunfights. Therefore, these locations should never be visited.
  • Shootouts may also occur outside such communities, in this case:
    • Lay on the ground and seek cover behind a solid object, such as the engine block.
    • When it is safe to do so, find the nearest building, stay away from any windows, and do not move unless you are sure that the gunfire has ended.
• Avoid walking alone in poorly lit areas or beaches after nightfall. Avoid walking/biking through tunnels, especially Túnel do Leme.
• As sexual aggressions are on the rise, women should pay special attention to the environments where they go alone and avoid empty and dark places.
• During a night out, never accept offers of food and beverages from strangers, and pay attention to yours, as they can add drugs to them.
  • Men and women alike are targets of such crimes.
• Be always cautious, even in the areas considered safe, such as Downtown, Botafogo, Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and Barra da Tijuca.
  • Exercise caution in the Centro (downtown) during the day and avoid the area after nightfall and during the weekends, as it is relatively deserted during such periods.
• Be careful when using the GPS, as it may lead you to unsafe areas controlled by organized crime.
  • Remain on the main streets and roads and avoid the rush hours.
  Keep your windows closed.
  • Prefer cooperative taxis instead of driving yourself or using a ride-sharing App.
• Stay away from any protests that normally occur in Av. Presidente Vargas, Av. Rio Branco, Praça da Cinelândia, and Av. Atlântica.
• Attention to scams that may reach you through a WhatsApp message, e-mail, SMS, or a call.
• Keep in mind useful numbers: Emergency police number (190), and Rio de Janeiro tourist Police. Phone: (21) 2332-7949