RIO STATE SECURITY CHIEF OPTIMISTIC ABOUT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RIO DE JANEIRO 001242

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/PDG-LGOULD, DS/ITA AND DS/IP/WHA,
DEPT FOR INL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV SNAR KCRM CASC BR
SUBJECT: RIO STATE SECURITY CHIEF OPTIMISTIC ABOUT
COMBATING CRIME, DRUGS

Summary
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1. (SBU) State Secretary for Security Marcelo Itagiba told
the Hyde CODEL on November 30 that police are implementing a
number of programs to better combat crime and drug
trafficking in violence-plagued Rio de Janeiro state. While
drug-related crime remains a major problem, the state's
murder rate has dropped -- in part due to an increase in the
confiscation of illegal firearms. Itagiba, fluent in
English and a close Mission contact, called on other state
agencies, family, the media, schools and the church to do
their part to combat widespread drug use and improve public
security in Rio. Itagiba's determination seemed to impress
the CODEL, but Rio's high crime rate continues to impact
Consulate employees; just two weeks ago an FSN was carjacked
at gunpoint while running errands before the Marine Ball.
End Summary.

Assembling the Tools to Combat Crime
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2. (U) Itagiba briefed members of the Hyde CODEL on
November 30 at the Marriott Hotel. Participants included
Representatives Henry Hyde (R-IL),Tom Lantos (D-CA),Mel
Watt (D-NC),Diane Watson (D-CA),and Luis Fortuno (R-PR).
Also present were their staffers, the Charge, CG Atkins,
RSO, Poloff and Conoff notetaker.


3. (SBU) Itagiba described a series of measures which are
better positioning Rio's law enforcement community to fight
the state's notoriously high crime rate. Over the past six
years, the state's Military Police ("first responders" who
prevent crime) and Civil Police (the investigative agency
that solves non-Federal crimes) have augmented their staffs
by at least 30 percent. More patrol cars, modernized
precinct buildings, better training, more extensive
coursework at universities and improved technology -
including the installation of 220 video cameras across the
city of Rio - are improving police capabilities and have
produced tangible results, Itagiba said. Another
contributing factor appears to be an increase in the seizure
of illegal firearms; in 1995, police seized approximately
5,000 weapons, with 8,000 murders recorded in Rio state. To
compare, in 2004 police captured approximately 15,000
firearms, but only 6,400 murders were recorded. Itagiba
displayed a graph showing a correlation between the increase
in the number of guns seized and a drop in the murder rate.

Laying Societal Problems On the Doorstep of Law Enforcement
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4. (SBU) Responsibility for the violence plaguing Rio
should not fall on the doorstep of law enforcement, Itagiba
said. Many crimes stem from personal or business conflicts
and are thus difficult for the police to prevent. Families,
schools and the church must do their part to provide
guidance. Similarly, the private sector has responsibility
to prevent acts of "delinquency"; a nightclub, for example,
should provide security and prevent drinking-related
violence from spilling into the street. The Brazilian
government shares the blame too: haphazard planning and
urban overcrowding have led to a 30% increase in the number
of slums in Rio, while inadequate public transportation has
forced low-paid construction workers to cram into far-flung
shantytowns to build the middle -class high rises burgeoning
in the suburbs. In conditions of despair, Itagiba said,
many people lose their perspective and commit crimes.

Widespread Drug Use and Trafficking Makes Matters Worse
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5. (SBU) A significant portion of Rio crime stems from
drug trafficking. Criminal gangs steal money and cars to
raise funds for traffickers to buy drugs from outside Rio
state. The drugs are then trafficked elsewhere or sold
domestically, in the hillside slums (favelas) interspersed
throughout Rio. Domestic consumption is a major problem as
well. Ten percent of the state's population, or 1.4 million
people, use illegal drugs - often in broad daylight in
public spaces, such as in Ipanema, home to many Consulate
employees. Interestingly, Rio state does not produce its
own drugs or guns; these are imported from Colombia, Peru
and Bolivia. Representatives from the major drug gangs in
these countries operate in Rio, Itagiba said.

Comment
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6. (SBU) CODEL members were clearly impressed with
Itagiba's claim that 78 drug lords have been arrested or
killed under his watch (since 1999),with only one major
player still at-large. Nevertheless, drug-related crime in
Rio continues to dominate the headlines and impact the lives
of Consulate employees. Three weeks ago, an FSN was car-
jacked at gunpoint in a middle-class neighborhood as she was
returning a DVD at a store. Shortly before that, 15 gunmen
took over an apartment building two doors down from the
residence of the Assistant RSO, seeking to rob the
apartments inside. Forty people were held hostage for three
hours, including five Americans. A month ago, an attempted
apartment invasion was thwarted by police a block away frm
the CG's residence. Given the size of the internal drug
market and lax law enforcement regarding consumption,
trafficking and related crime remain huge problems here.
ATKINS