Brazil launches 11 billion reais programme to combat organised crime on four fronts
The federal government launched the Brazil Against Organised Crime Programme on Tuesday, with 1.06 billion reais in direct resources for 2026 and a 10 billion reais credit line for states and municipalities.
National programme targets economic and operational structure of criminal gangs
The federal government launched, on Tuesday, 13 May, the Brazil Against Organised Crime Programme, a national strategy designed to dismantle the financial, operational and territorial bases of criminal organisations in the country. According to gov.br, the initiative combines investments, intelligence and coordinated action between the Union, states and municipalities, with the objective of targeting not only armed perpetrators, but also the command and economic support of criminal gangs.
The launch was accompanied by a presidential decree, four ordinances that structure the programme's pillars and the announcement of the first operational deliverables.
Four pillars and 1.06 billion reais for 2026
The programme is divided into four lines of action: financial strangulation of organised crime, security in the prison system, investigation of homicides and tackling the trafficking of weapons, ammunition and explosives.
For 2026, direct resources total 1.06 billion reais, distributed as follows: 388.9 million reais for financial strangulation actions; 330.6 million reais for the prison system; 201 million reais for homicide investigation; and 145.2 million reais for combating weapons trafficking.
In addition, the government will create a credit line of 10 billion reais, from the National Fund for Investment in Social Infrastructure (FIIS), aimed exclusively at public security. States, municipalities and the Federal District will be able to use the resources to acquire vehicles, motorcycles, speedboats, drones, body cameras, video surveillance systems, signal blockers, forensic equipment and technological solutions, as well as to reform penal facilities.
Pillar 1: cutting off the financial flow of criminal organisations
In the first pillar, the focus falls on the resources that finance criminal organisations. The creation of Integrated Forces to Combat Organised Crime (FICCOs) is planned at national level, for inter-state operations of high complexity, and the strengthening of FICCOs already existing in states.
The programme also provides for the expansion of the Integrated Committee for Financial Investigation and Asset Recovery (CIFRAs), new criminal analysis tools and the expansion of early alienation of seized assets, with auctions centralised in the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Between April and September, monthly integrated operations of state FICCOs are scheduled, installation of CIFRAs in the states and technological solutions for data extraction from mobile devices.
Pillar 2: maximum security in 138 strategic prisons
The second pillar focuses on interrupting criminal command exercised from within prisons. The central measure is the implementation of the maximum security standard in 138 strategic prison units, in the 26 states and the Federal District.
For this, the programme provides for the acquisition of drones, sweep kits, X-rays, vehicles, ground-penetrating radars, body scanners, metal detectors, audio and video systems and mobile phone blockers. The creation of the National Centre for Penal Intelligence (CNIP) is also envisaged, responsible for the integration of information at national level, as well as operations to remove mobile phones, weapons and drugs from units, training of staff and standardisation of security protocols.
Pillar 3: expanding homicide investigation
The third pillar focuses on improving the quality of criminal investigation and technical forensics. The actions include the strengthening of forensic police, the structuring of Medical-Legal Institutes (IMLs), the reinforcement of the Integrated Network of Genetic Profile Banks and the coordination of the National Ballistics Analysis System (Sinab).
Among the equipment to be acquired and distributed to the states are scientific freezers, refrigerated vehicles for transporting bodies, autopsy tables, ballistic comparators, DNA equipment, kits for collecting biological material and chromatographs.
Pillar 4: dismantling the illegal weapons market
The fourth pillar aims to prevent the illegal trade in weapons, ammunition, accessories and explosives, as well as to strengthen the capacity for tracing and investigation. The programme provides for the creation of the National Network to Combat the Trafficking of Weapons, Ammunition, Accessories and Explosives (RENARM) and the strengthening of the National Weapons System (SINARM), with the equipping of specialised police stations and technical cooperation for weapons traceability.
Source: Google News BR — Crime