Taking Control of the Favelas in Rio: Newsletter

 

TAKING CONTROL OF THE FAVELAS IN RIO: A TSSbrazil.com Report

 

José Mariano Beltrame, the State Secretary for Public Security in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has launched a program called the Favela Pacification Plan. His plan is to have the police enter and take control installing fixed police stations called UPP’s within the numerous slums, also known as favelas, in Rio, and thereby “pacifying” the criminal leadership. The immediate problem is that within these slums the drug lords and organized criminal gangs take control, and make the areas an attractive home-turf for the criminals to operate and prey on innocent victims throughout the city including the general citizen population, business visitors, and tourists. 

 

The Rio government wants to improve the lives of those who live and work in and around the slums, and provide public safety services, and security. The net result is to make the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro a safer area.  This is a necessary “bump in the road” to improve the business community and investment potential here in Brazil. TSS Group Brazil analysts have their “finger on the pulse” of supporting successful business growth.  The international press has “had a field day” with the crime problem in Rio as important events come to Brazil.  TSS Group Brazil is here to assist our clients’ take advantage of the opportunities and prosper.

 

Rio’s police have already successfully entered at least five favelas the most recent ones are Cantagalo, Pavao-Pavaozinho, and Morro da Babilonia. These slums are located in the famous Zona Sul, or South Zone of the city in close proximity to world-famous beaches and tourist sites commonly visited by foreigners and Brazilian citizens alike.  These specific areas include the neighbourhoods of Ipanema, Leblon, and Copacabana with their tourist economy highlighted by popular restaurants, clubs and hotels.

 

In the past these incursions and occupations of the favelas by the police have frequently lead to gunfire and violence in and around the favelas, and can lead to retaliation attacks by criminals against the general public, their businesses, and the public transportation system. These attacks include “torching” and fire bombings, hand grenades, and random shootings. The attacks create a major disruption to public transportation as well as shops and businesses surrounding the slums, and other populated and tourist concentrated areas of the city. They also reflect badly on the image of Rio. Of course the reality is very different, Rio is the right place to do business…but at the same time, it takes inside intelligence and understanding to succeed.

 

What does this mean to the average citizen, worker or tourist? 

 

It means that many the organized criminal gangs will be displaced from their normal activities of drugs dealing, providing illegal armed protection, and or extortion.  These gangs use crime and intimidation as part of their day to day activities and under these situations they will find it necessary to change their tactics to repel the attack on their livelihood by the authorities. In addition to making a public statement about the government policy affecting their “business interests”, these gangs will be forced to make money in other ways.

 

We have to remember that crime is their business. They will not be easily absorbed into the main stream society, and for the most part will continue their life of crime. This means that these criminal gangs will to go down to the street level to rob innocent victims to survive and “make ends meet.” As time goes on these criminal gangs will become increasingly desperate. They have little concern for life or empathy for the victims, and will use whatever means necessary to get money from their chosen victims. All are armed with knives or guns, and violence, attacks, intimidation, extortion, short and long term kidnapping, and car-jacking are all tried-and-tested methods that have worked here for decades.  

 

History and current trend based on information and intelligence indicate that these crimes will increase. `The Tsunami effect` is pushing these seasoned criminal gangs to stalk the streets day and night they are well organized and more dangerous than the other simpler less organized bandits Rio fosters called ´pivetes´ that tend to work in small groups of two or three and very much depend on their victims being a `soft target`

 

These organized criminals gangs will be attacking harder and more lucrative targets, and are capable of create panic among the ordinary population by using tactic such as fire bombing buses, igniting homemade bombs on public streets and in parks utilizing terror tactics on other public targets to instil fear in the general population businesses, and tourist community. 

 

Although this is not new to Rio we have seen recently a major increase in these types of attack as drug dealers and their gangs try to take over other gangs areas for profit and control. `The drug wars` This could well mean an escalation of heavy armed conflicts in these areas. A recent example was the police helicopter being shot down over the city killing three of the six police officers on board. The helicopter crashed and burned near the site of the future World Cup and Olympic Games. A tragic but symbolic message.

 

The criminal gangs’ tactic will change to fit their needs and that of their organization. In a recent event the drug dealers were caught using children, and the elderly to smuggle guns and contraband into and out of the occupied favelas.

 

Sergio Cabral, the Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro told reporters on a recent TV interview that the criminal gangs that operate out of two favelas in Copacabana had better leave now before the police start to occupy them. He stated that there will now be an end to this “parallel power” that the drug dealers and organized crime hold in Rio de Janeiro.  The public sector is taking the necessary steps to limit the crime here, companies should do all they can to support these efforts with private risk management techniques and consulting to keep their most precious resource – their people – safe and secure. 

 

We recommend an updating of the corporate Business Continuity Plans and Risk Management Strategic Plan as soon as possible to defer the possibility of business disruption.  

 

 

What to look for over the next few weeks and months?

 

The 13th salary. The Brazilians have what is known as a 13^th salary or a bonus month of pay during November/December.  This is paid out in the months of November/December and people have ready-cash to go shopping for Christmas.  This means that there will be money moving around and the criminals recognize this.  Expect them to change their tactics and step up street robberies, on public transportation such as buses, taxies, subways, and when people are leaving banks and ATM’s, etc.  Remember the bandits also have needs their work is crime. They deal in drugs, steal, extort, and intimidate...

 

Motoqueiros. An increasing trend is to the European-style moto-boys.  Commonly two people on small motorbikes roam the city looking for victims on the street, in private vehicles, and taxi cabs. These are very dangerous criminals that carry hand guns and some even carry hand grenades to intimidate their victims. These criminals target people stuck in traffic, robbing parked cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and shops using their motorbikes as a quick escape vehicle through the crowded streets.  In the last six months at least two of these attacks have made front page news. They both happened in Ipanema and involved high net worth Brazilian executives both were killed during the attacks. The police now are using quick motorcycle patrols and road blocks called a “Blitz” that stop all motorcycles for inspection as part of their efforts to reduce this type of crime.

 

What can you do to be aware and reduce the possibility of you or your family from an attack or becoming a victim of crime?

 

The US and other Consulates in Rio de Janeiro advises citizen, visitors, and residents in Rio to continue to pay close attention to their surroundings and to exercise prudence when moving about the city.  Additionally citizens in Rio should continue to take their personal safety seriously and, as always to obey any instructions they are given by Rio’s police. Public awareness and early warnings of any pending criminal activity is vital for public safety this is very much the job of the police and officials. However the individual has a responsibility to himself and his family, and this requires proper awareness training. With the right insight and proper training anyone can be familiarized with the basic of street awareness, prevention tactic, how to avoid becoming a victim of criminals, minimize their exposure, and what action to take in the event of becoming a victim.

 

There is also the responsibility of the executives and business managers towards their employees, and staff. With proper insight and training it has been shown time and time again to have a positive effect on moral and to reduce the possibilities of criminal and terrorist attack.

 

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