National Force begins operations in Santa Catarina

Mariana Tokarnia
Reporter from Agência Brasil

Brasilia – The National Force’s actions to contain the wave of violence that has hit 30 cities in Santa Catarina since January 30 were discussed today (15) during a meeting in Florianópolis between the National Secretary of Public Security, Regina Minck, the State Secretary of Public Security, César Grubba, and the Commander-General of the Military Police (PM), Colonel Nazareno Marcinero.

After the meeting, the state government, through its press office, reported that the Ministry of Justice had made 350 soldiers available, but did not specify how many would be requested by local authorities. The press office only confirmed that one aircraft and two buses from the National Force are already in the city.

According to the Santa Catarina state government, the National Force will work in conjunction with the Military Police under the command of Colonel Nazareno and Secretary César Grubba. The military may operate in the streets, in prisons, or in prisoner transfer operations.

The assistance of the National Force was offered last Wednesday (13), in a meeting between the Minister of Justice, José Eduardo Cardozo, and the Governor of Santa Catarina, Raimundo Colombo. The minister made the National Force available to the state, in addition to the Federal and Federal Highway Police. During the meeting, Cardozo and Colombo also discussed the transfer of prisoners from criminal factions operating within the Santa Catarina prison system to federal prisons.

With two more attacks in the early hours of today, according to the Military Police, the number of incidents associated with the wave of violence in Santa Catarina has risen to 100.

Editing: Aécio Amado