Brazil has long had a problem with mafia-style groups, according to the Global Organized Crime Index, with 8 out of 10, that places the country 3rd in South America.

One such group are the so-called militias, made up of former and serving members of military police or law enforcement. The militias groups have sought to profit from the housing market , with many residents facing the threat of violence, and even expulsion from their homes. Alongside this, militias have seeped into other markets, controlling access to utilities such as water, electricity and internet connectivity.

According to the Global Organized Crime Index, levels of extortion and protection racketeering are high, at 7 out of 10. These numbers contribute to the high overall criminality score for Brazil at 6.77 out of 10, placing them 22nd globally.

Presenter: Thin Lei Win

Speakers:

Antonio Sampaio, Thematic Lead on Cities & Illicit Economies at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.

Nicholas Pope, Research fellow in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London

Links:

Coercive brokers: Militias and urban governance in Rio de Janeiro

OC Index Country profiles:

Brazil Country Profile

The Global Organized Crime Index

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime