The need to combat obstruction of public roads increased after the operation that left 121 people dead, including four police officers, in Rio de Janeiro. The Rio government on Monday began Operation Barricada Zero, which removed 593 tons of barricades and arrested five people, in communities in Rio, São Gonçalo, Duque de Caxias, Nova Iguaçu and Quemados, according to a report. The state government implemented the measure in cooperation with city councils, and also received information that drug traffickers in and between the Alemão complexes, in the northern area of Rio, were ordered to remove the blockade, to prevent the police from targeting the area.
Governor Claudio Castro described the moment as the beginning of a new “cycle” in public safety.
– Those who do not want to receive visits from Cor and Bobby will start removing barricades. There is a new cycle happening in public security. We will work every day until criminality understands that it is no longer possible to challenge the state,” the governor said.