Brazil records over 84,000 disappearances annually, police urge immediate reporting

Brazil faces more than 84,000 disappearances each year, averaging about 230 missing persons daily. The state of São Paulo accounts for over 20,000 cases annually, the highest in the country. Police delegate Sandra Buzatti, head of the Protection Division of the Homicide Department, emphasised that there is no need to wait 24 hours to file a report, stating, “It’s a race against time; the quicker the police are notified, the greater the chance of finding the person.” She also noted that most missing‑person cases are eventually resolved. To improve investigations, Buzatti highlighted the use of the Smart Sampa system, which employs intelligent cameras to cross‑match missing‑person photos in real time, accelerating the search process.