Narco Brasil operation against drug trafficking gets second edition

In reference to the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, celebrated on June 26, the second edition of operation Narco Brasil, spearheaded by Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Safety, was launched Monday (Jun 27).

The inspection, repression, and monitoring efforts are to take place across all Brazilian states and the Federal District. Forces from the Federal Highway Police, Public Security Departments, as well as Civil and Military Police will also be engaged.

“Narco Brasil is among the strategies of this ministry to crack down on organized crime through the combination of federal and state police forces, as we are fully aware of the devastating effects drug consumption has not only on those who use them, but also on their families,” said Justice Minister Justice Anderson Torres.

Drugs

The World Drug Report 2021 shows that 275 million people have started using drugs worldwide. In the same year, 36 million suffered from disorders linked to drug use, not to mention the increase in drug markets and the Dark Web, which were estimated to have reached $315 million.

The operation has become part of the ministry’s strategies to boost the repression of drug consumption and trafficking, reduce the supply of narcotics, dismantle gangs, arrest offenders, and contribute to the pacification of cities and the protection of citizens, the minister went on to point out.

Figures

In its 2021 edition, Narco Brasil covered approximately 3.7 thousand municipalities, with 74.7 thousand police officers, and seized 133 thousand kilograms of drugs—cocaine (12.1 thousand kilograms), crack (7 thousand kilograms), hashish (75 kilograms), marijuana (88.2 thousand kilograms), skunk (3 thousand kilograms), and synthetic drugs (22.5 thousand kilograms). Supplies for drug production reached 495 kg seized. The total of drugs incinerated was 272,895 kg.

The operation is also reported to include 9,152 people arrested and in the seizure of weapons (3,052), ammunition (22,021), vehicles (3,296), BRL 115,700 in foreign currency, in addition to BRL 4.4 million. A total of 876 minors were taken under custody.

Also listed were 3,375 house search and seizure warrants served, 110 search and seizure warrants for juvenile offenders, and 2,249 arrest warrants.