Gangs of Rio 6 000 gang member living

Gangs of Rio 6, 000 gang member living in Rio that control drug trade cocaine

• One of the highest crime rates in Latin America • Five Brazilian cities rank among the 15 most violent in Latin America – Sao Paulo, Salvador, Recife, Rio and Brasilia

• Murder rate in comparative perspective (2004) Brazil = 26. 9/100, 000 United States = 5. 5/100, 000 ~20 murders per day in Rio • Overcrowding and dire prison conditions – Prison population (360, 000) 4 th in world – Posing a wider threat to public safety? • Brazil comes in 2 nd in highest gun-related deaths

• Unequal income distribution combined with widespread poverty – Out of population of 190 million, roughly 50 million live in poverty – Poverty in favelas • Social deprivation - 75% of country’s municipalities have no cultural or leisure facilities - 96% have no cinemas - 86% have no theater - 25% have no library

Major Gangs in Brazil • • • Red Command - CV First Capital Command - PCC Pure Third Command Amigos dos Amigos Capixaba Mafia

Comando Vermelho – Red Command - CV

• Biggest gang in Rio • Founded in 1979 in prison on Ilha Grande (Candido Mendes)

• Brazil was ruled by military dictatorship • Common criminals mixed with left-wing political prisoners known as Red Phalanx (influenced) • 1985 Brazil returned to democracy • Red Command controls the drug trade in many Rio Favelas

• Conflict with police and rival gangs Red Command is not as strong (many leaders in jail or dead) • 2005 controled 53% of Rio’s favelas – 2008 to 38. 8%

• To recruit youth to gang – sponsor neighbourhood associations, special interest clubs, organize sporting events • Most common way through subsidizing FUNK parties (Booty Music) FF

ADA – Amigos dos Amigos • Formed after spilt in Red Command (member was expelled)

ADA – Amigos dos Amigos Friends of Friends • Formed 1998 grew out of conflict between Red Command Pure Third Command member was expelled for ordering the murder of another members

ADA – Amigos dos Amigos Friends of Friends • Main rivals Red Command Third Pure Command • Controls North and West zones of city (Rochina) • Make 4 million a month selling drugs and guns

TCP – Pure Third Command Terceiro Comando Puro • Emerged out of a power struggle of leaders of the Red Command during mid 1980 s • Major rival with Red Command • Fighting to gain supremacy in slums and throughout prison system

President Da. Silva’s response (2000 -2005) • Stated that he would fix the security problem associated with urban gangs • Reelection in 2006 increased his capability to deal with gang violence

President Da. Silva’s response (2006 -2010) • Federal Government passed law crime to have a cell phone in prison • allocated $46 million for new prisons and surveillance in Sao Paulo state

President Da. Silva’s response (2006 -2010) • hiring of additional guards, but does not address the need to raise the salaries of guards currently employed. (Sao Paulo state) • Most social scientists agree that the overcrowding of prisons will continue to strengthen the gangs and thus weaken the government.

police Conflict