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Video of Police Hunt for Drug Trafficker Raises Concern in Brazil Video of Police Hunt for Drug Trafficker Raises Concern in Brazil
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SÃO PAULO, Brazil — A video taken from a Rio de Janeiro police helicopter depicting the frenzied hunt for a fugitive drug trafficker, involving heat-seeking technology and spraying the suspect’s car with gunfire from the air in a densely-populated residential area, is raising new concerns in Brazil over the heavy use of force by the police against some adversaries. SÃO PAULO, Brazil — A video taken from a Rio de Janeiro police helicopter depicting the frenzied hunt for a fugitive drug trafficker, involving heat-seeking technology and spraying the suspect’s car with gunfire from the air in a densely populated residential area, is raising new concerns in Brazil over the heavy use of force by the police against some adversaries.
The video, which was obtained by the Globo television network and broadcast nationally on Sunday night, drew quick rebukes from legal authorities and human rights advocates. Marfan Martins Vieira, a prominent prosecutor in Rio de Janeiro, said Monday that he would reopen an investigation to the killing. The video, which was obtained by the Globo television network and broadcast nationally on Sunday night, drew quick rebukes from legal authorities and human rights advocates. Marfan Martins Vieira, a prominent prosecutor in Rio de Janeiro, said Monday that he would reopen an investigation into the killing.
The black-and-white video shows the police meticulously tracking from the air their target, Márcio José Sabino Pereira, a convicted drug trafficker who was widely known as “Mathematician,” through a slum called Favela da Coréia. Recorded the night of May 11, 2012, the video features officers in the helicopter nervously talking to one another as thermal imaging equipment allows them to focus on a figure emerging from a home in the slum. The black-and-white video shows the police meticulously tracking from the air their target, Márcio José Sabino Pereira, a convicted drug trafficker who was widely known as Mathematician, through a slum called Favela da Coréia. Recorded the night of May 11, 2012, the video features officers in the helicopter nervously talking to one another as thermal imaging equipment allows them to focus on a figure emerging from a home in the slum.
“It looks like him, right?” an officer says to another in the video.“It looks like him, right?” an officer says to another in the video.
“That’s right; it looks like him,” another responds. The figure enters a car, which then is driven slowly along a residential street. After it travels a few blocks, the police helicopter dips closer to the car. “That’s right; it looks like him,” another responds. The figure enters a car, which is then driven slowly along a residential street. After it travels a few blocks, the police helicopter dips closer to the car.
An officer screams, “Get it!” and they begin spraying the car with bullets, hitting several buildings around the car, as well. Asked by Globo about heavy use of gunfire and risks for residents, Adonis Lopes de Oliveira, the helicopter’s commander, responded, “That street was frequented largely by traffickers.” An officer screams, “Get it!” and the police begin spraying the car with bullets, hitting several buildings around the car, as well. Asked by Globo about heavy use of gunfire and risks for residents, Adonis Lopes de Oliveira, the helicopter’s commander, responded, “That street was frequented largely by traffickers.”
In a statement, the police said that officers had been fired upon before the helicopter operation,,when they had entered the slum earlier that day in an effort to prevent Mathematician from fleeing. A day after the video was filmed, Mathematician’s body was found nearby in a car. At the time, the police described his death, at age of 36, as a “resistance killing.” In a statement, the police said that officers had been fired upon before the helicopter operation, when they entered the slum earlier that day in an effort to prevent Mathematician from fleeing. A day after the video was filmed, Mathematician’s body was found nearby in a car. At the time, the police described his death, at the age of 36, as a “resistance killing.”
The video of the chilling episode puts into sharp relief security challenges that persist in Rio, which is preparing to host part of the World Cup in 2014 and the 2016 Summer Olympics. While crime has declined in parts of the city, drug trafficking organizations and militias, extortion groups, operated by active-duty and retired police officers, still control some sprawling areas.The video of the chilling episode puts into sharp relief security challenges that persist in Rio, which is preparing to host part of the World Cup in 2014 and the 2016 Summer Olympics. While crime has declined in parts of the city, drug trafficking organizations and militias, extortion groups, operated by active-duty and retired police officers, still control some sprawling areas.
“The so-called pacification of Rio de Janeiro is for a certain territory that interests certain investments in the city,” said Marcelo Freixo, a lawmaker and leading human rights activist in Rio, referring to upscale seaside districts. “The city of Rio is a lot larger than this, and the areas that are not part of these mega-events are still living with the kind of images you saw.”“The so-called pacification of Rio de Janeiro is for a certain territory that interests certain investments in the city,” said Marcelo Freixo, a lawmaker and leading human rights activist in Rio, referring to upscale seaside districts. “The city of Rio is a lot larger than this, and the areas that are not part of these mega-events are still living with the kind of images you saw.”
It was not immediately clear whether other people were injured or killed in the hunt for Mathematician, who had been tracked for months by police intelligence officials. Still, after the video was broadcast, top police authorities in Rio appeared ready to acknowledge that officers had gone too far in their use of force.It was not immediately clear whether other people were injured or killed in the hunt for Mathematician, who had been tracked for months by police intelligence officials. Still, after the video was broadcast, top police authorities in Rio appeared ready to acknowledge that officers had gone too far in their use of force.
“This image leads us to admit that there could have been a disproportionate action,” said Martha Rocha, the head of Rio’s Civil Police force.“This image leads us to admit that there could have been a disproportionate action,” said Martha Rocha, the head of Rio’s Civil Police force.

Simon Romero reported from São Paulo, Brazil, and Taylor Barnes from Rio de Janeiro.

Simon Romero reported from São Paulo, Brazil, and Taylor Barnes from Rio de Janeiro.