History of the illegal drug market in Rio de Janeiro

This entry is a translation of História do mercado ilegal de drogas no Rio de Janeiro.

This publication is part of the monograph “Children and Adolescents in the Illegal Drug Trade” (2021) presented to the School of Social Work of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, as a partial requirement for obtaining a bachelor's degree in Social Work.

Autoria: Kharine Gil

Introduction

Looking historically, the foundations of the illegal drug market in Rio de Janeiro were laid at the beginning of the 20th century. However, it was only at the end of the 1970s, with the arrival of large quantities of cocaine in the state, that this market expanded and underwent major transformations. Before then, the city's informal illegal trade was led by the jogo do bicho (MISSE, 1999). Author Luke Dowdney (2004) identifies three moments of drug trafficking and the formation of criminal factions in this region, which can be separated as: “1) Before cocaine and the Comando Vermelho; 2) The 1980s: cocaine, the Comando Vermelho and the definition of territories; 3) The 1990s: the continuation of territorial disputes and the emergence of new factions.” (DOWDNEY, 2004, p. 28).

Construction of the Drug Market in Rio de Janeiro

In the 1950s, the drug market in Rio de Janeiro was predominantly centered around the sale of marijuana, which was consumed in limited areas of the city, such as favelas, prisons, and prostitution zones. While the illicit drug trade was already organized, it lacked sophisticated structures. Those involved in this market possessed firearms for protection; however, unlike today, with massive arsenals and displays of weaponry in favelas, they typically carried only .38 caliber revolvers hidden under their shirts. Furthermore, many drug dealers were residents of the areas where they operated and adhered to local norms, such as prohibiting drug sales and marijuana use in the presence of children. Cocaine was also sold at the time but in small quantities (Dowdney, 2004).

In the early 1980s, during the technocratic-military dictatorship, several changes transformed the patterns and organizational structure of the illegal drug market in Rio de Janeiro. These changes included the arrival of Colombian cocaine, increased police activity characterized by repression and violence, the emergence of drug factions, and the use of military-grade weapons (Misse, 1999).

From this point on, cocaine became the main source of income for the drug market in Rio. Compared to marijuana, it was less costly to produce, yielding greater financial returns. Additionally, the city became a transit hub for cocaine exports to regions such as the United States, Europe, and South Africa. This shift led to a restructuring of the system, with organizational changes and the introduction of violence as a tool for domination (Dowdney, 2004).

Comando Vermelho

One of the key moments in the expansion of Rio de Janeiro's drug market and the foundation of its culture of violence was the consolidation of the Comando Vermelho (CV). This faction was established in the late 1970s inside Rio's prisons, where some inmates formed a group initially called Coletivo. This group later became known as Falange Vermelha and eventually as Comando Vermelho, a name popularized by the press. The faction emerged as prisoners sought to organize themselves to defend their rights within the prison system.

Regarding the early organizational models of the CV, there is debate about whether its members learned from the political prisoners jailed during the military dictatorship. These groups began to extend their criminal organization beyond prison walls (Dowdney, 2004).

In the latter half of the 1980s, internal conflicts within the CV became frequent, leading to splits and violent territorial disputes. Consequently, other factions were formed in the city during the 1990s, such as the Terceiro Comando, Comando Vermelho Jovem, and Amigo dos Amigos. These developments brought changes to Rio’s illegal drug trade, including intensified territorial disputes, increased violence in favelas, the expansion of weapon stockpiles, and the recruitment of children and youth for drug-related activities (Dowdney, 2004).

Particularities of Rio de Janeiro

As Benjamin Lessing (2008) highlights, criminal organizations in Rio de Janeiro operate differently compared to those in other Brazilian states. In Rio, there is a greater prevalence of high-caliber weapons, such as bazookas, machine guns, and anti-aircraft weaponry; higher numbers of people recruited into crime; more frequent police and civilian fatalities in armed conflicts; and the monopolistic organization of favelas, with broad territorial domination over the city (Lessing, 2008).

It is also worth noting that before the rise of factions, those involved in the illegal drug trade did not recruit children for drug-related activities. When children were involved, they were excluded from armed roles and assigned tasks such as drug transportation (aviãozinho) or lookout duties. There was a general effort to protect children by restricting their work and excluding them from armed conflicts (Dowdney, 2004).

Thus, it is clear that transformations since the 1980s have significantly influenced the incorporation of child labor into Rio’s illegal drug market. By 1993, conflicts among the city’s factions intensified, resulting in the deaths and imprisonment of many adults involved in the drug trade. This situation led to children and adolescents replacing those killed in the conflicts and taking over their roles in the drug market (Dowdney, 2004).

Final Considerations

Referring to the commonly known "drug trafficking" as a "market" or "trade" underscores the need to view this network as a market characterized by capital, negotiations, labor relations, buyers, and sellers. Despite its illicit nature, the drug trade in Rio de Janeiro influences social relations and interactions within the city. For this reason, it is essential to deepen our understanding of its construction and continuity.

References

DOWNDNEY, L. Crianças do tráfico: um estudo de caso sobre crianças em violência armada organizada no Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro: 7 letras, 2004.

LESSING, B. As facções cariocas em perspectiva comparativa. Novos Estud. – CEBRAP. São Paulo, n. 80, p. 43-62, mar., 2008.

MISSE, M. Malandros, marginais, vagabundos & a acumulação social da violência no Rio de Janeiro. 1999. 413. Doutorado em Sociologia. Instituto Universitário de Pesquisas no Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 1999. Disponível em: https://www.academia.edu/34634074/MISSE_M_MALANDROS_MARGINAIS_E_VAGABUNDOS_acumula%C3%A7%C3%A3o_social_da_viol%C3%AAncia_no_RJ. Acesso em: 23 de março de 2021.

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• Consumo e tráfico de drogas (debate);
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