2023-10-26 17:03:00
Paramilitary groups are increasingly present in the daily life of Rio de Janeiro. As they occupy more territories, these criminal groups also expand their operations. Currently, they obtain income through the monopoly of services such as internet and cooking gas, they control prostitution and extort all types of commerce, including the sale of ice on the beaches and brooms in the western area.
This week, the militia demonstrated its power by coordinating the largest bus attack in Rio’s history. 35 vehicles were burned, causing chaos in the city and estimated losses of at least R$ 38 million. This action occurred after the death of one of the leaders of the CL Militia, the largest group in the State. For two months, the reporter visited approximately 60 neighborhoods and communities that cover 833 areas identified by the Civil Police as being under the influence of the criminal organization, speaking with dozens of victims of these groups. This text is the first in the series of reports on paramilitary groups in Rio de Janeiro.
Created from the union between former police officers and local politicians, the militias began to gain strength in Rio in the early 2000s. It was in this period that the Justice League emerged, the largest group of its type in the Rio capital. . Initially, they emerged with the discourse of bringing more security to areas dominated by drug trafficking. However, in practice, they resorted to extortion and coercion to force residents to pay in exchange for protection and access to their services, such as gas and transportation.
Translated by AZAHARA MARTÍN ORTEGA
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