Criminal groups restrict internet service to 45% of homes in Niterói

Criminal organisations operating in Niterói have forced major internet providers to withdraw service from roughly 45% of residential addresses. Operators report that groups threaten technicians, sabotage cables, steal equipment and block authorised companies from working in neighborhoods such as Engenho do Mato, Maravista, Rio do Ouro, Várzea das Moças, Itaipu and Fonseca. Residents in the affected zones have lost the ability to choose their provider and some have even relocated to avoid service interruptions.

Local police, the civil guard and municipal authorities have stepped up operations. A recent raid resulted in the arrest of a suspect and the seizure of vehicles and materials used for illegal installations. Authorities say they are intensifying patrols and intelligence work to disrupt the gangs that impose these clandestine internet services.