The Federal Government extends the operations of the National Forces in Rio de Janeiro

In one of his last acts in office, Brazil’s Minister of Justice and Public Security Flávio Dino authorized the extension of National Forces operations in Rio de Janeiro until February next year. Dino will leave his position at the end of this month to fill the vacant position of judge of the Federal Supreme Court of the STF, to which he was appointed by Lula da Silva and confirmed by the Senate.

A contingent of 300 men and women of the National Force has been operating in Rio de Janeiro since October 16 last year, strengthening local police in the area of ​​public security, a period originally authorized by the central government ended this week. According to Flavio Dino himself, this Friday the mandate of this unit, made up of elite police officers from several Brazilian states, was extended for another 30 days, remaining in force until the middle of next month.

The new Minister of Justice and Public Security is due to take office on February 1, former STF Federal Supreme Court judge Ricardo Lewandowski will be replaced by Dino, and the decision will depend on the new portfolio holder. Rio de Janeiro Governor Claudio Castro has requested more federal troops due to rising violence in the city.

The central government agreed to send National Forces agents but barred them from directly combating crime on the streets of Brazil’s second city, a function that is the sole responsibility of the regional police. National Forces personnel were then tasked with increasing surveillance of the federal roads crossing Rio de Janeiro in an attempt to prevent the flow of weapons and drugs into the city, which they would continue to do until the new minister made a decision on the matter.