The meeting between Federal Government ministers and the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro, ended a few moments ago. The meeting, held at Palácio Guanabara, focused on combating organized crime in the state, after the mega-operation that resulted in 121 deaths and 113 arrests, the most lethal outcome ever recorded in police actions in Rio.
During the meeting, Governor Cláudio Castro announced a new partnership with the federal government to strengthen public security actions. According to him, the objective is to align strategies and promote joint action between state and federal forces in combating criminal organizations operating in Rio de Janeiro.
“If the problem is national, Rio de Janeiro is one of the main focuses. From here came a concrete proposal: the creation of an Emergency Office to Combat Organized Crime”, said Castro alongside federal government ministers. The governor highlighted that the new body will be coordinated by representatives from both levels of government and will have the function of centralizing information and strategic decisions.
According to Castro, integration between forces will be essential to make the fight against crime more efficient. “The idea is that our actions will be 100% integrated from now on, including to overcome possible bureaucracy. We will integrate intelligence, respect the competencies of each body, but thinking about breaking down barriers to, in fact, provide public safety”, added the governor.
The meeting took place amid the strong repercussion of the recent police operation that targeted Comando Vermelho. Residents reported finding bodies in forested areas in the days following the action, which intensified the debate about the limits of police action and the need for greater coordination between federal entities. The meeting between Cláudio Castro and the Minister of Justice, Ricardo Lewandowski, also sought to alleviate differences over federal support for operations in the state.
According to information from the state government, the Emergency Office to Combat Organized Crime should function as a permanent nucleus of cooperation between security forces. The space will bring together civil and military police, federal agents and intelligence technicians, with the aim of sharing information in real time and defining joint strategies to reduce violence in the state.
Palácio Guanabara also reported that the new integration model seeks to overcome bureaucratic obstacles that, according to authorities, make it difficult to respond immediately to the actions of criminal factions. The federal government must appoint representatives to closely monitor the implementation of the office and define the first operational measures in the coming days.
With the announcement of the partnership, the Federal Government and the State Government of Rio de Janeiro attempt to inaugurate a new phase in Rio de Janeiro’s public security policy, marked by coordination between spheres of power and the promise of more transparency in operations. The expectation is that the emergency office will contribute to making actions more strategic and less susceptible to communication failures between the bodies involved.
