Brazil 2019 Crime and Safety Report: Rio de Janeiro This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Brazil at Level 2, indicating travelers should exercise increased caution due to crime. Do not travel to any areas within 150 km of Brazil's land borders with Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Paraguay due to crime; (Note: This does not apply to the Foz do Iguacu National Park or Pantanal National Park.) or to informal housing developments (commonly referred to in Brazil as favelas, vilas, communidades, and/or conglomerados), at any time of day due to crime. Overall Crime and Safety Situation The U.S. Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizen Services unit (ACS) cannot recommend a particular individual or establishment, and assumes no responsibility for the quality of services provided. Review OSAC’s Rio de Janeiro-specific page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Crime Threats There is serious risk from crime in Rio de Janeiro. Violent crimes such as murder, armed robbery, carjacking, assault, and kidnapping are a frequent occurrence. Opportunistic street crime such as pickpocketing, purse snatching, and smash-and-grab theft from vehicles and storefronts is a constant concern. These acts take place in all areas of the city at any time throughout the year. Foreign visitors of all nationalities, including U.S. citizens, have been victims. Criminals most often target their victims due to perceived wealth and lack of awareness. There is no indication that criminals target U.S. citizens or U.S. government employees due to their nationality. Most criminals commit crimes while armed, and will not hesitate to use violence if they encounter resistance. In the majority of incidents, compliant victims were unharmed. Do not accept drinks from strangers and always watch your drink. Criminals may add scopolamine or a similar drug to your drink. People have woken up robbed of their valuables or sexually assaulted after accepting such a drink. For more information, review OSAC’s reports, Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad, and Scopolamine Incidents on the Rise in Colombia. Parks, beaches, and other recreational areas have experienced violent crimes, mostly at night, to include assault, theft, and sexual assault. Depart from these public areas before sundown. Although assaults are also common during the day, higher rates of crime occur after dark. 1 There are noticeable nationwide increases in reported crime in December and January, likely attributable to Brazil’s liberal system of prison furloughs that allows for leave during the holidays, a higher percentage of police officers on annual leave during the Christmas season, diversion of police resources to patrol popular coastal areas, and the receipt of a “13th month” salary bonus in December that leaves many Brazilians with extra disposable income. Burglars also frequently target vacant homes and apartments during these two months, while owners and tenants are traveling. The use of credit card cloning devices and radio frequency interception (RFI) at restaurants, bars, and public areas is a serious concern in Rio. The World Bank reports that Brazil has one of the highest concentrations of ATMs worldwide. Local cybercriminals target ATMs to obtain credit card and banking information, and portable point-of-sale systems to obtain the information stored in the magnetic strip of credit cards swiped for payment. Because this scheme requires access to payment hardware, insider access is usually involved. Cybersecurity companies often note that, while still vulnerable, chip-and-PIN cards are more secure and harder to clone than magnetic swipe cards. All visitors to Brazil should be aware of the increased risk to their credit and debit card information, and carefully monitor accounts for suspicious activity. For more information, review OSAC’s report, The Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud. Cybersecurity Issues Brazil remains among the most pervasive cybercrime environments worldwide. Brazilian cybercriminals are sophisticated and regularly employ malware to steal billions of dollars annually, despite government efforts to stop malicious online activity. The domestic banking sector has historically been the primary target of these operations and anecdotal information suggests insider access; however, cybercrime in Brazil also affects daily Internet users, private-sector organizations, and short-term travelers. Scams involving credit cards are common. Travelers using personal ATM or credit cards sometimes discover that criminals had cloned or duplicated their cards without their knowledge. Maintain awareness of popular schemes to avoid becoming cybercrime victims. Cyber security and online fraud are major concerns, with annual losses reaching billions of dollars. Hacktivists have defaced government websites and taken them offline in recent years. Other Areas of Concern All of Rio’s neighborhoods are subject to criminal activity. Among them are ungoverned urban areas known as favelas (sometimes called communidades), which are often visually distinct from the most affluent neighborhoods. Drug gangs dominate these areas; armed confrontations between traffickers and police occur frequently. The crime in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas is a product of organized crime, centered on narco- trafficking. The Rio de Janeiro state government began a “favela pacification program” a decade ago to bring favelas under systematic government and police control. Over 30 favelas have been “pacified” to date (located mostly in the southern part of the city), but this strategy has yielded only modest results due to a lack of resources. Over the past year, violent crime in Rio de Janeiro escalated to the point of being a national security concern. In February 2018, the Brazilian President authorized Brazil’s Armed Forces to intervene directly in public security within the state of Rio de Janeiro, employing joint military-police operations, strategic planning, and intelligence sharing in an effort to quell the violence and rebuild state law enforcement capabilities. The favelas are off-limits to U.S. government personnel; avoid them. Transportation-Safety Situation Road Safety and Road Conditions Road conditions in Rio de Janeiro are similar to those found in large U.S. cities. Drivers in Rio de Janeiro should expect traffic congestion and delays at any time. Due to the topography of Rio de Janeiro (mountain ranges surround the southern part of the city), tunnels cause multiple vehicular chokepoints throughout the city. Many drivers do not receive sufficient training, properly licensure, or insurance, which leads to stressful driving conditions at any given time. Some major roadways run through or next to favelas, increasing the potential for violent crime to spill out onto the roadways, causing potentially significant traffic delays. Drive defensively at all times. Limit any overland travel beyond city limits to daylight hours. Road conditions outside of the main cities vary greatly. Brazil uses automatic photo-ticketing systems to discourage speeding and mails tickets to the owner of the vehicle. While traveling through rural areas, pay close attention to potholes and speed bumps. Lighting, traffic signals, and road markings vary from good to poor. Using tinted windows, rolling windows up, and locking doors, and keeping valuables out of sight are the best recommendations against possible random criminal activity. For more information on self-driving, review OSAC’s report, Driving Overseas: Best Practices. Incidents of cargo theft, both from overland shipments originating at ports of entry and from storage facilities, occur frequently. Brazil’s rate of cargo theft is among the highest in the region, and of particular concern in Rio de Janeiro. Criminals target all commercial goods, although shipments of petroleum, pharmaceuticals, and mobile electronics are especially lucrative. Public Transportation Conditions Rio de Janeiro has a municipal bus system, taxis, and an underground railway system. While none is off limits to U.S. government employees in Rio de Janeiro, ride with caution in order to reduce the possibility of being a victim of crime, especially in the northern zone of the city. Although buses are plentiful and generally keep to a regular schedule, avoid city buses whenever possible. Protests and demonstrations targeting the bus and mass transit systems often leave passengers vulnerable to violence; buses have been set ablaze or robbed while in transit. While taxis are plentiful, there are still high rates of illegal/pirate taxis looking for potential targets of opportunity. Only use legitimate, well-marked taxis, which are yellow with a blue stripe and possess state-issued red livery license plates in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The local populace uses informal minibuses to move from neighborhood to neighborhood in Rio; these vehicles have had numerous criminal issues, are not regulated, and should not be used by visitors. Use taxis and private vehicles for use when moving within the city of Rio de Janeiro.