Pará stands out with good practices of Fluvial Bases and Operation Curupira in publication by the Brazilian Forum on Public Security in Belém
Out of eight public safety initiatives, Pará develops two actions that have been fundamental in combating crime
With the theme "Promising experiences in crime and violence prevention and confrontation in the Amazon," the Cartography of Violence in the Amazon was launched by the Brazilian Forum on Public Security this Monday (10) at Casa Amazônia in Belém. The study highlights good public safety practices implemented in Pará such as the Fluvial Bases and Operation Curupira.
The study aims to gather not only the challenges in combating organized crime in the Amazon but also to demonstrate the initiatives that need to be valued and highlight their potential to generate promising impacts on crime control, violence prevention, and the promotion of rights for territories and populations in the region.
Out of eight public safety and territorial protection initiatives in the Brazilian Amazon highlighted in the study, Pará stands out with the Integrated Fluvial Bases "Antonio Lemos" and "Candiru," which have been fundamental in combating drug trafficking, environmental crimes, and river piracy through permanent presence and inter-agency integration.
In addition to the "Operation Curupira," aimed at monitoring and combating deforestation in Pará and other interconnected crimes.
Present at the launch, the Secretary of Public Security and Social Defense, Ualame Machado, emphasized his satisfaction in seeing that out of eight initiatives launched in the study developed by the Brazilian Forum, two are from Pará and have been successful.
"We are happy to gain positive recognition in yet another study by the Brazilian Forum, this time in the Cartography of Violence in the Amazon, presented to everyone with operational details and data on investments and successful practices from our Fluvial Bases and Operation Curupira. Both initiatives have been fundamental in combating drug trafficking, environmental crimes, and other crimes that stem from these. This study released today demonstrates the importance of the integration of security forces that operate daily in these actions and assist in reducing crimes in our state," said Ualame Machado.
Public Safety Fluvial Bases
According to the study, the implementation of Fluvial Bases in Pará, since June 2022 in the Marajó archipelago and September 2024 in Baixo Amazonas, marks a policy of permanent state presence at strategic points not only for Public Safety but also for inspections by agencies in different fields that, acting in an integrated manner, can optimize and share the existing structure.
The bases were built considering the complex Amazonian waterway system, which serves as a means of transportation for populations from different municipalities/states. This context makes the rivers strategic corridors not only for social and economic flow but also for criminal dynamics - especially drug trafficking, which has shown significant variation in recent years.
According to data released in the study, sourced from Segup, between 2019 and 2024, cocaine seizures in Pará grew by 212.9%. The peak of seizures in the state occurred in 2020, when nearly 7,000 kilograms of the drug were seized. In relation to marijuana, the volume seized increased by 75.7% between 2023 and 2024, reaching over 10,000 kilograms - the highest record in the historical series. The data demonstrate the importance of seizures made in the Amazon rivers and the need to improve inspection and territorial control strategies via waterways.
Operation Curupira
Operation Curupira, coordinated by the Secretary of Environment, Climate, and Sustainability (Semas) and Segup, began in February 2023 in areas with higher deforestation rates and continues to operate with three fixed bases in the municipalities of Uruará, Novo Progresso, and São Félix do Xingu. The actions have been fundamental in combating environmental crimes and other illicit activities in these regions, as highlighted in the study.
Among the results of Curupira's actions, some stood out in the study:
In 66 phases, 1,792 inspection actions were carried out in Operation Curupira, resulting in the seizure of 215 firearms, 691 ammunition, over 1,400 seized machinery, 95 arrests, and 180 civil police summons.
"In addition to all the operational results and the confrontation of crime through Curupira, the state has ensured a continuous reduction in deforestation, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the actions carried out continuously through the operation. I often say that integration makes all the difference, and the joint actions and all the investment made show the importance of working on promising investments like these in our state," said Segup head Ualame Machado.
