Operation Guillotine

Last week, there was a massive police operation in Rio to arrest nearly 40 police officers in public officials to purge the city's public security forces of corruption. It was one of the largest operations of its kind in Carioca history, led by Jose Beltrame, the state security chief. Nicknamed Operation Guillotine, the suspects were accused colluding with drug traffickers, protecting illegal gambling operations, being part of militia groups, and taking bribes.

 

One of the highest profile arrests was that of Carlos de Oliveira, a former civil police commander fired in 2010 who was most recently working for the city government for a department called the Special Secretary of Public Order. It turns out that he had turned his cabinet into his own personal mafia, and he's accused of running a milicia, arms trafficking, and charging drug lords R$100,000 a pop for information about police operations. Though the arrests took place on Friday, it looks like there are still more operations taking place: on Sunday night, the Civil Police chief shut down an entire police station from the Draco unit, responsible for investigating organized crime.

The sweep comes as city officials boost security measures as the Olympics and World Cup draw closer, which also includes establishing police pacification units in favelas around the city. Whether it's só para inglês ver is up for debate, but some seem hopeful; over at Rio Real blog, the analysis was positive, and writer Julia commented that "nothing seems impossible now, not even reducing police corruption."

Cariocas, though, are cautious when it comes to matters like these, and with good reason. The question now is, what happens to those arrested? Will they actually go to jail? If in jail, will they be isolated to the point that they can no longer run operations from their cells? Or, will they wind up with little to no jail time, returning home to rejoin militias and collude with drug traffickers again? Or worse yet, will they end up working for the government again? There's unfortunately more than one precedent for the last scenario. Corruption is incredibly difficult to root out, especially in a place where it goes all the way to the top. You do have to start somewhere, so it's definitely an encouraging sign. But impunity goes hand in hand with corruption, and unless the suspects are sufficiently brought to justice, there's reason for skepticism.

Comments

[Ian]

Corruption will always exist; what's needed in Brazil is to either reduce it to "acceptable" levels like in New York or Los Angeles, or to effectively "systematize" it a la Chicago's Machine. That is, eliminating corruption is unfeasible, but reducing or managing it so vital municipal services and legitimate entrepreneurial activity aren't severely compromised is absolutely necessary. Brazil's growth hinges on citizens of all strata being able to trust that their representatives and security forces will truly work to protect and defend them and their interests and possessions.

[The Gritty Poet]

An off topic homage to a great Carioca.

http://grittypoet.blogspot.com/2011/02/tchau-craque.html

You were awesome, thanks so much.

[Adam Gonnerman]

The bigger question for me is what will happen in Rio once the events are over and the spotlight is gone? Sure, that's several years away, but old habits (and corruption) die hard.