Argentina, Paraguay boost border security against Comando Vermelho
Days after the security forces of the state of Rio de Janeiro launched the so-called Operation Containment against organized crime in the favelas of Penha and Alemão, the governments of Argentina and Paraguay decided to reinforce patrols along their borders with Brazil.
“We reinforced border security to protect Argentinians from any exodus [of criminals] resulting from the clashes in Rio de Janeiro,” explained the Argentine Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, in a post on her social media.
She published a copy of the official letter she sent to the Secretary of National Security, Alejandra Monteoliva, ordering an increase in the number of federal troops on the border with Brazil as a “preventive measure.”
In the same official document, Bullrich describes members of the Brazilian Comando Vermelho faction as narcoterrorists and instructs the responsible officers to coordinate with Brazilian and Paraguayan police authorities to establish joint action.
Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay already have a police cooperation agreement on the border, under which the Tripartite Command of the Triple Frontier was established. Following an alert issued by the command, the Paraguayan government decided to adopt extraordinary surveillance measures this Wednesday (Oct. 29).
In a statement, the Paraguayan National Defense Council (Codena) stated that the purpose of reinforcing the border forces and migration control measures is to prevent members of Comando Vermelho who escaped police action in the Penha and Alemão favelas from entering the country.
“Faced with this situation, since the early hours of last Tuesday (28), the competent [Paraguayan] national security institutions have implemented extraordinary prevention and surveillance measures along the entire border,” explained Codena.
Operation Containment
Operation Containment, carried out by the Civil and Military Police of Rio de Janeiro, left around 120 people dead, including four police officers, according to the latest count. The state government considered the operation “a success,” stating that those killed had reacted violently, while those who surrendered were arrested. In total, 113 arrests were made, 118 weapons were seized, and 1 ton of drugs was confiscated. The operation aimed to contain the advance of the Comando Vermelho faction and to execute 180 search-and-seizure warrants and 100 arrest warrants, 30 of which were issued by the Justice of Pará state.
The operation involved a force of 2,500 police officers and is the largest and deadliest carried out in the state in the last 15 years. Clashes and retaliatory actions by criminals caused panic throughout the city, with intense gunfire leading to the closure of main roads, schools, businesses, and health centers. Residents of the region, relatives of the deceased, and various organizations have denounced the operation as a “massacre.” Corpses collected by residents from the surrounding woods were found beheaded and showing signs of execution.
