Argentina’s government on Wednesday ordered the reinforcement of its eastern and north-western borders to prevent any potential “spillover” following a surge of violence in Rio de Janeiro, where a police operation against a drug gang left more than 100 people dead.
On Tuesday, Rio’s security forces carried out a major raid against the Comando Vermelho drug cartel in several of the city’s favelas. According to official figures, 119 people were killed – 115 suspected gang members and four police officers – making it the deadliest police operation in Brazil’s history.
“We are reinforcing the borders to protect Argentines from any possible ‘disorder’ that might arise from the conflicts in Rio de Janeiro,” Argentina’s National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said on Wednesday in a post on X.
Argentina and Brazil share a 1,132-kilometre border. The minister did not specify whether the number of border staff would be increased, but she did request that “officers stationed along the frontier be sent the recognition manual detailing the identifying signs of these narco-terrorist groups, to assist in possible identifications.”
Bullrich also announced tighter checks on arrivals from Brazil.
“It means looking at Brazilians very closely, whether they have a criminal record or not,” she said during a press conference at the Government House, as reported by Infobae.
"I am going to issue a maximum alert at the borders so that there can be no crossing or passage of those who are clearly moving from place to place due to the centrality of the conflict in Rio," Bullrich told accredited press.
"Of course, we are not confusing tourists. It is an alert model. It is not a large group of people, but we have a lot of movement in the Triple Frontier," she explained.
She added that Argentina would coordinate further actions with Paraguay and Brazil.
The operation aimed to weaken the Comando Vermelho, Rio de Janeiro’s most powerful criminal organisation, which has expanded significantly in recent years, according to authorities.
While the government reported 119 deaths, the Public Defender’s Office told AFP the number was 132. Rio authorities also said 113 people had been arrested, including 10 teenagers.
– TIMES/AFP/NA
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