The links between politics and paramilitary police mafias in Rio

The assassination of city councilor Marielle Franco and her driver Anderson Gomes on March 14, 2018 opened Brazil’s eyes to a long-lasting phenomenon in Rio de Janeiro: the expansion of paramilitary police mafias, commonly known as militias. While two hitmen were arrested for their involvement in the murder, the police have yet to identify a motive or who ordered the assassination. What has been ascertained, however, is that the gunman and his getaway driver are members of a death squad linked to paramilitary groups in Rio de Janeiro, against which Marielle Franco spent her public life fighting.

Since that tragic day, more and more has been revealed about the links between militias and Rio de Janeiro politics. These ties go all the way to Brazil’s First Family, as Jair Bolsonaro and his politician sons made their careers in Rio de Janeiro and paid tribute to prominent militia members on several occasions, even employing their family members in their parliamentary offices.

The links between militias and Rio de Janeiro politics run so deep that the state prosecution service created a task force during this year’s municipal election campaign to investigate mayoral and council candidates allegedly backed by these criminal groups.