Gangs of Rio

Gangs of Rio6,000 gang member living in Rio that control drug trade - cocaine

• One of the highest crime rates in Latin America

• Five Brazilian cities rank among the 15 most violent in Latin America – Sao Paulo, Salvador, Recife, Rio and Brasilia

• Murder rate in comparative perspective (2004)

Brazil = 26.9/100,000United States = 5.5/100,000

~20 murders per day in Rio• Overcrowding and dire prison

conditions–Prison population (360,000) 4th in world

–Posing a wider threat to public safety?

• Brazil comes in 2nd in highest gun-related deaths

• Unequal income distribution combined with widespread poverty– Out of population of 190 million, roughly 50

million live in poverty– Poverty in favelas

• Social deprivation- 75% of country’s municipalities have no

cultural or leisure facilities- 96% have no cinemas- 86% have no theater- 25% have no library

Major Gangs in Brazil

• Red Command - CV• First Capital Command - PCC • Pure Third Command - • Amigos dos Amigos - • Capixaba Mafia

Comando Vermelho – Red Command - CV

• Biggest gang in Rio• Founded in 1979 in prison on Ilha Grande

(Candido Mendes)

• Brazil was ruled by military dictatorship• Common criminals mixed with left-wing political

prisoners known as Red Phalanx (influenced)• 1985 Brazil returned to democracy• Red Command controls the drug trade in many

Rio Favelas

• Conflict with police and rival gangs Red Command is not as strong (many leaders in jail or dead)

• 2005 controled 53% of Rio’s favelas – 2008 to 38.8%

• To recruit youth to gang – sponsor neighbourhood associations, special interest clubs, organize sporting events

• Most common way through subsidizing FUNK parties (Booty Music) FF

ADA – Amigos dos Amigos• Formed after spilt in Red Command (member was

expelled)

ADA – Amigos dos AmigosFriends of Friends

• Formed 1998 grew out of conflict between Red Command and Pure Third Command member was expelled for ordering the murder of another members

ADA – Amigos dos AmigosFriends of Friends

• Main rivals Red Command and Third Pure Command

• Controls North and West zones of city (Rochina)• Make 4 million a month selling drugs and guns

TCP – Pure Third CommandTerceiro Comando Puro

• Emerged out of a power struggle of leaders of the Red Command during mid 1980s

• Major rival with Red Command• Fighting to gain supremacy in slums and

throughout prison system

President DaSilva’s response (2000-2005)

• Stated that he would fix the security problem associated with urban gangs

• Reelection in 2006 increased his capability to deal with gang violence

President DaSilva’s response (2006-2010)

•Federal Government passed law - crime to have a cell phone in prison•allocated $46 million for new prisons and surveillance in Sao Paulo state

President DaSilva’s response (2006-2010)

•hiring of additional guards, but does not address the need to raise the salaries of guards currently employed. (Sao Paulo state)•Most social scientists agree that the overcrowding of prisons will continue to strengthen the gangs and thus weaken the government.

policeConflict