Brazil intensifies coordinated fight against organized crime with national program and security summit

Brasil Contra o Crime Organizado Consesp 100th meeting DRACCO department organized crime crackdown R$3 billion impact

The Brazilian government has launched a broad crackdown on organized crime through the “Brasil Contra o Crime Organizado” program. In its first two months, operations led by the National Secretariat of Public Security seized 134.8 tonnes of drugs, 2,159 firearms and 31,418 rounds of ammunition, confiscated assets worth R$ 723 million and blocked financial assets of R$ 324.9 million, totaling a R$ 3 billion impact on criminal groups. More than 18,800 people were arrested by 17,175 security agents, and violent‑crime rates fell by double‑digit percentages, including a 17.5 % drop in intentional homicides.

The effort was highlighted at the 100th meeting of the National Council of Public‑Security Secretaries (Consesp) in João Pessoa, where federal, state and municipal officials, including Paraíba Governor Lucas Ribeiro and Secretary of Public Security Chico Lucas, stressed the need for integrated actions. Ribeiro said, “We need integrated and organized actions, because only then will we strengthen the fight against organized crime.” The meeting also featured the participation of the Paraíba Military Firefighters Corps (CBMPB) and announced the creation of the Department of Repression and Combat against Organized Crime (DRACCO) and a Canine Operations Group (GOC) within the state's Civil Police, renaming specialised police units to focus on robberies, homicides and victim protection.

These coordinated measures aim to combine financial asphyxiation of criminal networks, intelligence sharing, and institutional reforms to curb organized crime across Brazil.