Federal government and Rio de Janeiro create emergency office to combat organized crime.

247 - The Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Lewandowski, and the Governor of Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro (PL), announced this Wednesday (29) the creation of an emergency office to combat organized crime. The decision was taken during a meeting amid the crisis caused by the deadliest police operation in the state's history, which left more than 120 dead.

The initiative, announced by Agência Gov, foresees joint action by federal and state agencies in the fight against criminal factions. The new office will be coordinated by the Secretary of Public Security of Rio, Victor Santos, and the National Secretary of Public Security, Mário Sarrubbo.

Technical support and integration of forces

During the meeting, the federal government offered Rio de Janeiro criminal experts, forensic doctors, dentists, and ballistics and DNA specialists. “We made available to the governor and security authorities criminal experts who can be mobilized by the National Force and also from other states. Forensic doctors, dentists, experts. We also have databases regarding DNA, ballistics, all of which we are making available to the governor,” stated Lewandowski.

The minister reinforced the need for coordinated and temporary action, but with concrete results. “We are facing a very serious problem, not only here in Rio de Janeiro, but one that is spreading throughout the country. Therefore, we will gather all our efforts, investing material and human resources to confront it in the most coordinated way possible. Of course, these task forces, these offices, are temporary, they are emergency measures. But, considering the commitment of all of us, we will soon have good results,” he emphasized.

Difference between factions and terrorism

Lewandowski also addressed the debate surrounding the classification of criminal factions as "narcoterrorists," a term used by local authorities. He explained that there are legal and practical distinctions between the two types of crime. “Terrorism always involves an ideological motivation, a political action, with social repercussions and sporadic attacks. Criminal factions are groups that systematically commit crimes, as defined in the Penal Code. It is easy to identify a faction by the results of its actions; there is no subjectivity in that. Terrorism, however, requires a more subjective assessment. We have laws that define what constitutes a criminal organization and what constitutes terrorism,” the minister explained.

He added: “These are two types of action that should not be confused. The federal government has no intention of mixing these concepts, especially since that would greatly hinder the fight against crimes that are clearly distinct in motivation and modus operandi.”

Combat structure and cooperative federalism

The emergency office will also integrate the Financial Intelligence and Asset Recovery Committee (Cifra), aimed at decapitalizing criminal organizations, and the Integrated Task Force to Combat Organized Crime (Ficco), created in partnership with the states.

The minister emphasized that the federal government operates based on the principle of cooperative federalism: "The problem of one federal unit is a problem for all member states."

By the end of 2025, the Federal Highway Police (PRF) will increase its staff in Rio by 50%, which will represent 350 new police officers in the state.

Full cooperation and integration

Governor Cláudio Castro highlighted the importance of integrating security forces. “The idea is that our actions will be 100% integrated from now on, including overcoming potential bureaucratic hurdles. We will integrate intelligence, respect the competencies of each agency, but with the goal of breaking down barriers to truly achieve public safety,” he stated.

Lewandowski added that the model should inspire new national policies. "This will be the embryo of what we want to implement in the states with the Public Security Amendment to confront the scourge that is organized crime."

Action against the "upper class"

Earlier, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad commented that the federal government is also working to dismantle the financial structures that support crime. “This is a fight between the Brazilian state and crime. Therefore, state agencies must function in accordance with the Constitution, cooperatively and harmoniously, against crime. The worst thing that can happen is to put one entity of the federation in antagonism with another,” he said.

"Our goal is to get to those who organize the crime," Haddad emphasized, defending the focus on the origin of the resources that fuel the factions.

On social media, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated: “We cannot accept that organized crime continues to destroy families, oppress residents, and spread drugs and violence throughout the cities. We need coordinated work that targets the backbone of drug trafficking without putting innocent police officers, children, and families at risk.”