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Security Profiles: Travel with Confidence
Your safety is our top priority. As an HTH member, you can travel the globe armed with vital safety information.
Security Profiles are destination based reports that provide up-to-date intelligence about terrorism, crime, kidnapping and political stability. With the ever-changing dynamics of today's world, you can find yourself in jeopardy at a moment's notice. Terrorist activities, demonstrations, instability, crime and similar issues continue to impact the way we travel. Security Profiles provide peace of mind even before you take your trip.
SAMPLE SECURITY PROFILE
Security Information for: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
City Risk Rating: 2.94 (Medium Risk)
Security Conditions
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's second largest city and the capital of Rio de Janeiro state, served as Brazil's capital from 1763 until 1960, when the capital was relocated to Brasilia. Millions of tourists are attracted to the city every year by the annual Carnival celebrations, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, and the Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the city. Rio de Janeiro's economy represents the second largest GDP in the country and the city is the headquarters of several major companies. The city has come under increased scrutiny regarding law enforcement's ability to improve security ahead of 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Downtown Rio de Janeiro is surrounded by hills crowded with favelas, or slums, which are overrun with violent militias and heavily armed drug trafficking gangs that will resort to violence when confronted. During the last week of November 2010, violent clashes erupted among organized crime syndicates and police officers in Rio's Vila Cruzeiro and Alemao favelas, leaving 51 dead, 124 arrested, and 148 detained. Police seized more than 40 tons of marijuana and 300kg (660 pounds) of cocaine during the raids, along with hundreds of motorcycles, 15 cars, and several weapons. The operation dismantled several criminal cells, but Rio de Janeiro is comprised of hundreds of favelas that are controlled by even more gangs that continue to threaten the urban center. In January 2011, police reportedly seized three additional slums in an effort to increase security in the area. In April 2011, police launched a massive operation in the city's Rocinha favela in an effort to search for a notorious drug leader; some 200 police raided the favela leading to the arrest of 11 suspected drug traffickers and the seizure of three tons of marijuana. However, the major leader of the Amigos dos Amigos gang was not captured. More recently, eight people were killed when police swept through the Engenho da Rainha favela in June 2010, sparking early morning gun battles. As the conflict between organized crime and law enforcement heats up, similar bouts of violence should not be ruled out in the long-term.
While drug-related violence largely remains contained to favelas, it has been known to frequently spill into tourist and business districts of the city. In August 2010, suspected drug gang members attempting to evade police raided an upscale hotel in the city and took at least 30 people hostage, including several foreign tourists. At least one person was killed and several police and bystanders injured after the three-hour ordeal came to an end and nine suspects were arrested.
There is a high risk of violent crime in Rio de Janeiro, where criminals will not hesitate to use violence during robberies and other crimes. Officials reported in June 2011 that there had been a significant decline in violent deaths in the state, noting that violent deaths due to murder, larcenies, and deaths in grave injuries and confrontations fell 11.3% in April 2011; despite this decline, the overall rate of crime in Rio remains high. There have also been declines in the number of home robberies (12.8%) and muggings (15.5%). In July 2011, four armed men scaled the outside walls of a luxury hotel in Rio de Janeiro and robbed 15 hotel guests, including foreign nationals. The incident occurred during the early morning hours and no injuries were reported. In May 2009, a U.S. national was attacked by armed robbers when he arrived to his home to find gunmen holding his family hostage and stealing jewelry, electronics, and cash. Meanwhile, two Korean tourists were assaulted by muggers along the Copacabana beach in March 2009. One month earlier, an Australian national was assaulted in an attempted robbery as she exited a taxi at her hotel in the city. The attack was just one of several reported during a three day period, as authorities reported some 58 other robberies of foreign nationals during the annual Carnival celebrations.
There is a high risk of kidnapping in Rio de Janeiro. In October 2009, a bank manager was snatched in a tiger kidnapping in the city's Zona Norte neighborhood and held for four hours before police engaged the gang in a shootout and rescued the victim. The five suspected kidnappers were arrested and are believed to be linked to at least five other tiger kidnappings in just a four month period. One month earlier, four Rio police officers were arrested in connection to the abduction of a Paraguayan businesswoman who was released following the payment of a US$90,000 ransom. The victim was grabbed leaving a hotel in Copacabana and was forced to withdraw cash from several banks in the city before being released. In February 2009, a Brazilian actor was the victim of an express kidnapping in the Jardim Oceanico neighborhood when two gunmen forced him into their vehicle and held him hostage for nearly an hour before releasing him. While foreign nationals are not explicitly targeted in kidnappings, the risk should not be discounted. In August 2008, a Vietnamese diplomat was kidnapped for more than 24-hours until he managed to escape; he had been riding in a taxi from Rio along a dirt road leading to the Christ the Redeemer statue when armed men ambushed his vehicle.
Car thefts are a major problem in Rio de Janeiro, a city with an average of 125 vehicles stolen per day. Officials reported in May 2011 that there was a 24.3% drop in car thefts in the state during the first three months of the year. Brazilians are often targeted for hold-ups and carjackings in areas where a car is running idle, such as at traffic lights, parking lots, and driveways. To protect against hold-ups at intersections, motorists in Rio de Janeiro are permitted to treat stoplights as stop signs between the hours of 10pm and 6am. In November 2010, there was a spate of robberies involving gunmen blocking major roadways and then robbing numerous vehicles at a time. In one incident, a man who resisted the robbery was shot dead. Other incidents involve gunmen throwing Molotov cocktails into vehicles.
While travel by car has its risks, public transportation in Rio de Janeiro is also considered unsafe as drug gangs have been known to attack buses in retaliation for police operations, while criminals frequently hold up entire buses to rob passengers. Criminals have been known to target private charter buses as well, especially those en route to the airport. A busload of German and Croat tourists was robbed while traveling into Rio de Janeiro from the airport in January 2007. Drug traffickers have also been behind a number of attacks on public buses. In March 2010, at least 13 people were injured when drug traffickers attacked a public bus in the Ciudad de Deus favela and set it on fire. Four men reportedly threw Molotov cocktails at the bus, which was carrying 20 people at the time. Four months earlier, three suspected drug traffickers were arrested after setting fire to a bus in the Copacabana neighborhood in retaliation for a recent police operation.
There is a moderate risk of civil unrest in the city, with the majority of protests erupting in response to land disputes, police involvement in violence, or salary disputes. In June 2011, clashes erupted when firefighters demanding salary increases launched a demonstration in front of the Fire Department Headquarters. Firefighters stormed the building and occupied it for several hours until police forced their way in and used tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets to disperse them. In June 2009, clashes were reported between riot police and protesting van drivers outside the Guanabara Palace when drivers staged a protest to denounce state transportation regulations; one person was injured as police fired rubber bullets at protesters.
Rio de Janeiro is frequently affected by flooding that can paralyze the city. In April 2010, more than 220 people were confirmed dead after landslides and flooding hit the city. In what has been called the country's worst mudslide in history, a hillside slum in the suburb of Niteroi was essentially destroyed when a landslide tore through the neighborhood. Homes, stores, and churches were destroyed and hundreds were reported missing. The ongoing torrential downpours paralyzed the city, with a number of mudslides cutting off routes and flooding homes in a matter of days. Storms were also responsible for a massive blackout that left half the country without power in November 2009, including all of Rio de Janeiro. Airports and subway systems were ground to a halt after the country's largest hydroelectric dam was forced offline.
Dengue fever, a potentially fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes, has afflicted Rio and its surrounding areas in recent years. Officials in November 2010 warned that the country was at a deadly risk of an outbreak due to standing water from recent storms, which provided a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Authorities reported that there was a dramatic spike in fatal cases of dengue in 2010, with 592 recorded between January and October. Rio de Janeiro was at a particularly elevated risk due to the closure of three major hospitals leaving medical responders overwhelmed.
The reputation of Rio security forces has been tarnished by allegations of collusion with several militias. In February 2011, the city's police chief resigned after he reportedly leaked information on federal police investigations to corrupt police among his force; some 30 police officers were arrested just days before on suspected ties to drug traffickers and paramilitary groups. Some 171 neighborhoods are reportedly controlled by militias that are headed by police or former officers. In December 2009, a two and a half year-long investigation led to accusations that dozens of police officers were routinely committing unlawful executions. In July 2009, authorities launched investigations into some 30 officers believed to be involved in a death squad responsible for the murders of 20 people. In a separate incident, several police officers were dismissed after confessing to being part of a militia that kidnapped and tortured two journalists inside a "private prison" for more than eight hours.
Most Dangerous Areas
The entire metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro is considered dangerous to walk or drive in alone, particularly after dark. Travelers should avoid all favelas, such as Morro do Maritimo in the Rio de Janeiro suburb of Niteroi, as shootouts between rival drug gangs occur regularly. Other particularly unsafe areas to avoid are Dende, Zona Norte, Rocinha, Vidigal, and Jacarezinho.
Countless travelers have been robbed on the local beaches, including Ipanema and the famed Copacabana. Caution should be also utilized in the neighborhoods surrounding the Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, where a large number of robberies have been reported.
Carjackings are a major problem throughout Rio de Janeiro. Carjackers frequently target the area surrounding the upscale Barra neighborhood due to the presence of a high number of luxury vehicles. Public transportation is also dangerous and should be avoided whenever possible. Pickpockets are prevalent on buses and trains and in terminals. Buses are also occasionally targeted for armed robberies.
Your safety is our top priority. As an HTH member, you can travel the globe armed with vital safety information.
Security Profiles are destination based reports that provide up-to-date intelligence about terrorism, crime, kidnapping and political stability. With the ever-changing dynamics of today's world, you can find yourself in jeopardy at a moment's notice. Terrorist activities, demonstrations, instability, crime and similar issues continue to impact the way we travel. Security Profiles provide peace of mind even before you take your trip.
SAMPLE SECURITY PROFILE
Security Information for: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
City Risk Rating: 2.94 (Medium Risk)
Security Conditions
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's second largest city and the capital of Rio de Janeiro state, served as Brazil's capital from 1763 until 1960, when the capital was relocated to Brasilia. Millions of tourists are attracted to the city every year by the annual Carnival celebrations, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, and the Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the city. Rio de Janeiro's economy represents the second largest GDP in the country and the city is the headquarters of several major companies. The city has come under increased scrutiny regarding law enforcement's ability to improve security ahead of 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Downtown Rio de Janeiro is surrounded by hills crowded with favelas, or slums, which are overrun with violent militias and heavily armed drug trafficking gangs that will resort to violence when confronted. During the last week of November 2010, violent clashes erupted among organized crime syndicates and police officers in Rio's Vila Cruzeiro and Alemao favelas, leaving 51 dead, 124 arrested, and 148 detained. Police seized more than 40 tons of marijuana and 300kg (660 pounds) of cocaine during the raids, along with hundreds of motorcycles, 15 cars, and several weapons. The operation dismantled several criminal cells, but Rio de Janeiro is comprised of hundreds of favelas that are controlled by even more gangs that continue to threaten the urban center. In January 2011, police reportedly seized three additional slums in an effort to increase security in the area. In April 2011, police launched a massive operation in the city's Rocinha favela in an effort to search for a notorious drug leader; some 200 police raided the favela leading to the arrest of 11 suspected drug traffickers and the seizure of three tons of marijuana. However, the major leader of the Amigos dos Amigos gang was not captured. More recently, eight people were killed when police swept through the Engenho da Rainha favela in June 2010, sparking early morning gun battles. As the conflict between organized crime and law enforcement heats up, similar bouts of violence should not be ruled out in the long-term.
While drug-related violence largely remains contained to favelas, it has been known to frequently spill into tourist and business districts of the city. In August 2010, suspected drug gang members attempting to evade police raided an upscale hotel in the city and took at least 30 people hostage, including several foreign tourists. At least one person was killed and several police and bystanders injured after the three-hour ordeal came to an end and nine suspects were arrested.
There is a high risk of violent crime in Rio de Janeiro, where criminals will not hesitate to use violence during robberies and other crimes. Officials reported in June 2011 that there had been a significant decline in violent deaths in the state, noting that violent deaths due to murder, larcenies, and deaths in grave injuries and confrontations fell 11.3% in April 2011; despite this decline, the overall rate of crime in Rio remains high. There have also been declines in the number of home robberies (12.8%) and muggings (15.5%). In July 2011, four armed men scaled the outside walls of a luxury hotel in Rio de Janeiro and robbed 15 hotel guests, including foreign nationals. The incident occurred during the early morning hours and no injuries were reported. In May 2009, a U.S. national was attacked by armed robbers when he arrived to his home to find gunmen holding his family hostage and stealing jewelry, electronics, and cash. Meanwhile, two Korean tourists were assaulted by muggers along the Copacabana beach in March 2009. One month earlier, an Australian national was assaulted in an attempted robbery as she exited a taxi at her hotel in the city. The attack was just one of several reported during a three day period, as authorities reported some 58 other robberies of foreign nationals during the annual Carnival celebrations.
There is a high risk of kidnapping in Rio de Janeiro. In October 2009, a bank manager was snatched in a tiger kidnapping in the city's Zona Norte neighborhood and held for four hours before police engaged the gang in a shootout and rescued the victim. The five suspected kidnappers were arrested and are believed to be linked to at least five other tiger kidnappings in just a four month period. One month earlier, four Rio police officers were arrested in connection to the abduction of a Paraguayan businesswoman who was released following the payment of a US$90,000 ransom. The victim was grabbed leaving a hotel in Copacabana and was forced to withdraw cash from several banks in the city before being released. In February 2009, a Brazilian actor was the victim of an express kidnapping in the Jardim Oceanico neighborhood when two gunmen forced him into their vehicle and held him hostage for nearly an hour before releasing him. While foreign nationals are not explicitly targeted in kidnappings, the risk should not be discounted. In August 2008, a Vietnamese diplomat was kidnapped for more than 24-hours until he managed to escape; he had been riding in a taxi from Rio along a dirt road leading to the Christ the Redeemer statue when armed men ambushed his vehicle.
Car thefts are a major problem in Rio de Janeiro, a city with an average of 125 vehicles stolen per day. Officials reported in May 2011 that there was a 24.3% drop in car thefts in the state during the first three months of the year. Brazilians are often targeted for hold-ups and carjackings in areas where a car is running idle, such as at traffic lights, parking lots, and driveways. To protect against hold-ups at intersections, motorists in Rio de Janeiro are permitted to treat stoplights as stop signs between the hours of 10pm and 6am. In November 2010, there was a spate of robberies involving gunmen blocking major roadways and then robbing numerous vehicles at a time. In one incident, a man who resisted the robbery was shot dead. Other incidents involve gunmen throwing Molotov cocktails into vehicles.
While travel by car has its risks, public transportation in Rio de Janeiro is also considered unsafe as drug gangs have been known to attack buses in retaliation for police operations, while criminals frequently hold up entire buses to rob passengers. Criminals have been known to target private charter buses as well, especially those en route to the airport. A busload of German and Croat tourists was robbed while traveling into Rio de Janeiro from the airport in January 2007. Drug traffickers have also been behind a number of attacks on public buses. In March 2010, at least 13 people were injured when drug traffickers attacked a public bus in the Ciudad de Deus favela and set it on fire. Four men reportedly threw Molotov cocktails at the bus, which was carrying 20 people at the time. Four months earlier, three suspected drug traffickers were arrested after setting fire to a bus in the Copacabana neighborhood in retaliation for a recent police operation.
There is a moderate risk of civil unrest in the city, with the majority of protests erupting in response to land disputes, police involvement in violence, or salary disputes. In June 2011, clashes erupted when firefighters demanding salary increases launched a demonstration in front of the Fire Department Headquarters. Firefighters stormed the building and occupied it for several hours until police forced their way in and used tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets to disperse them. In June 2009, clashes were reported between riot police and protesting van drivers outside the Guanabara Palace when drivers staged a protest to denounce state transportation regulations; one person was injured as police fired rubber bullets at protesters.
Rio de Janeiro is frequently affected by flooding that can paralyze the city. In April 2010, more than 220 people were confirmed dead after landslides and flooding hit the city. In what has been called the country's worst mudslide in history, a hillside slum in the suburb of Niteroi was essentially destroyed when a landslide tore through the neighborhood. Homes, stores, and churches were destroyed and hundreds were reported missing. The ongoing torrential downpours paralyzed the city, with a number of mudslides cutting off routes and flooding homes in a matter of days. Storms were also responsible for a massive blackout that left half the country without power in November 2009, including all of Rio de Janeiro. Airports and subway systems were ground to a halt after the country's largest hydroelectric dam was forced offline.
Dengue fever, a potentially fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes, has afflicted Rio and its surrounding areas in recent years. Officials in November 2010 warned that the country was at a deadly risk of an outbreak due to standing water from recent storms, which provided a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Authorities reported that there was a dramatic spike in fatal cases of dengue in 2010, with 592 recorded between January and October. Rio de Janeiro was at a particularly elevated risk due to the closure of three major hospitals leaving medical responders overwhelmed.
The reputation of Rio security forces has been tarnished by allegations of collusion with several militias. In February 2011, the city's police chief resigned after he reportedly leaked information on federal police investigations to corrupt police among his force; some 30 police officers were arrested just days before on suspected ties to drug traffickers and paramilitary groups. Some 171 neighborhoods are reportedly controlled by militias that are headed by police or former officers. In December 2009, a two and a half year-long investigation led to accusations that dozens of police officers were routinely committing unlawful executions. In July 2009, authorities launched investigations into some 30 officers believed to be involved in a death squad responsible for the murders of 20 people. In a separate incident, several police officers were dismissed after confessing to being part of a militia that kidnapped and tortured two journalists inside a "private prison" for more than eight hours.
Most Dangerous Areas
The entire metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro is considered dangerous to walk or drive in alone, particularly after dark. Travelers should avoid all favelas, such as Morro do Maritimo in the Rio de Janeiro suburb of Niteroi, as shootouts between rival drug gangs occur regularly. Other particularly unsafe areas to avoid are Dende, Zona Norte, Rocinha, Vidigal, and Jacarezinho.
Countless travelers have been robbed on the local beaches, including Ipanema and the famed Copacabana. Caution should be also utilized in the neighborhoods surrounding the Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, where a large number of robberies have been reported.
Carjackings are a major problem throughout Rio de Janeiro. Carjackers frequently target the area surrounding the upscale Barra neighborhood due to the presence of a high number of luxury vehicles. Public transportation is also dangerous and should be avoided whenever possible. Pickpockets are prevalent on buses and trains and in terminals. Buses are also occasionally targeted for armed robberies.
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