Rio de Janeiro expressways face disruptions from crime and police operations

Criminal activity and police operations have caused significant disruptions to major expressways in Rio de Janeiro. On Thursday, Military Police intercepted an attempted cargo theft on the Linha Amarela near the Complexo da Maré. While the vehicle and its cargo of soft drinks were recovered, the incident caused heavy traffic congestion that impacted both the Linha Amarela and the Linha Vermelha.

Data from the Instituto Fogo Cruzado indicates a pattern of violence affecting the Linha Vermelha, which serves as a primary access route to Galeão International Airport. Since January, 113 shootings and 78 instances of people being shot have been recorded in the vicinity of the highway. The road has been closed at least eight times this year due to police occurrences, including instances where criminal factions, such as the Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP), blocked traffic in retaliation to police operations in areas like the Complexo da Maré and Complexo de Israel.